diffusion
noun
dif·fu·sion
di-ˈfyü-zhən 
1
: the state of being spread out or transmitted especially by contact : the action of diffusing
the diffusion of knowledge
2
3
a
chemistry
: the process whereby particles of liquids, gases, or solids intermingle as the result of their spontaneous movement caused by thermal (see thermal entry 1 sense 1b) agitation and in dissolved substances move from a region of higher to one of lower concentration
b
physics
(1)
: reflection of light by a rough reflecting surface
(2)
: transmission of light through a translucent material : scattering
4
: the spread of cultural elements from one area or group of people to others by contact
5
photography
: the softening of sharp outlines in an image
Examples of diffusion in a Sentence
the author's tendency toward diffusion makes the novel a tedious read
Recent Examples on the Web
Nvidia should be using its success around the world to work hard to compete against China in other markets and stop focusing on its diminishing market share in China, especially after Trump gave the company the gift of repelling the AI diffusion rule.
—
Dewardric L. McNeal, CNBC, 29 May 2025
The color, the pizzazz, the spectacle is what has drawn so many of us to the handiwork of the LLM in a diffusion model, where the program adds noise, prior to de-noising into a novel, coherent result.
—John Werner, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
On a post-earnings-release call, CEO Jensen Huang said there are four positive surprises so far in 2025: the demand of reasoning AI, the removal of the AI diffusion rule, enterprise AI, and industrial AI.
—Shannon Carroll, Quartz, 28 May 2025
The diffusion rule was more than just a mere export control.
—Matthew Mittelsteadt, National Review, 26 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for diffusion
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Dewardric L. McNeal, CNBC, 29 May 2025
The color, the pizzazz, the spectacle is what has drawn so many of us to the handiwork of the LLM in a diffusion model, where the program adds noise, prior to de-noising into a novel, coherent result.
—John Werner, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
On a post-earnings-release call, CEO Jensen Huang said there are four positive surprises so far in 2025: the demand of reasoning AI, the removal of the AI diffusion rule, enterprise AI, and industrial AI.
—Shannon Carroll, Quartz, 28 May 2025
The diffusion rule was more than just a mere export control.
—Matthew Mittelsteadt, National Review, 26 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for diffusion
Cite this Entry
“Diffusion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diffusion. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
diffusion
noun
dif·fu·sion
dif-ˈyü-zhən
1
: a diffusing or a being diffused
2
: the mixing of particles of liquids, gases, or solids so that they move from a region of high concentration to one of lower concentration
3
: the scattering of light by reflection from a rough surface or by passage through a translucent material (as frosted glass)
Medical Definition
diffusion
noun
dif·fu·sion
dif-ˈyü-zhən
1
: the process whereby particles of liquids, gases, or solids intermingle as the result of their spontaneous movement caused by thermal agitation and in dissolved substances move from a region of higher to one of lower concentration
2
a
: reflection of light by a rough reflecting surface
b
: transmission of light through a translucent material
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