Origin: Latin suffix -sion
Diffusion has 5 different meanings across 1 category:
(physics) the process in which there is movement of a substance from an area of high concentration of that substance to an area of lower concentration
"Perfume spreads across the room through diffusion, as scent molecules move from the concentrated bottle into the surrounding air."
the spread of social institutions (and myths and skills) from one society to another
"The rapid diffusion of Japanese management techniques transformed the corporate culture across many Western nations."
the property of being diffused or dispersed
"The diffusion of light through the dusty air made it difficult to see where the room ended."
the act of dispersing or diffusing something
"the dispersion of the troops"
"the diffusion of knowledge"
The act of diffusing or dispersing something, or the property of being diffused or dispersed; dispersion.
"The diffusion of perfume throughout the room was slow due to the stagnant air."
In plain English: Diffusion is when particles spread out from an area where there are many of them to an area where there are fewer until they are evenly distributed.
"The diffusion of light through the cloudy glass created a soft glow in the room."
Usage: Diffusion refers specifically to the gradual spreading out of particles like gases or liquids from an area of high concentration to one of low concentration. Do not confuse this scientific process with general scattering or distribution in other contexts.
The word diffusion comes from the Latin verb diffundere, meaning to spread out or scatter widely. It entered English through French in the late 16th century with this same sense of spreading something over a large area.