Dissipate: meaning, definitions and examples

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dissipate

 

[ˈdɪsɪˌpeɪt ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Verb

weather

To dissipate means to disappear or scatter. In the context of weather, dissipate is used to describe how fog, smoke, or clouds gradually disperse or vanish.

Synonyms

disperse, evaporate, vanish.

Examples of usage

  • The morning mist began to dissipate as the sun rose higher in the sky.
  • The smoke from the campfire dissipated into the cool night air.
  • The storm clouds slowly dissipated, revealing a clear blue sky.
Context #2 | Verb

emotions

To dissipate can also mean to gradually reduce or weaken. In the context of emotions, dissipate is used to describe how feelings of anger, fear, or tension gradually lessen or fade away.

Synonyms

diminish, subside, weaken.

Examples of usage

  • After taking a deep breath, she felt her anger dissipate.
  • The tension in the room began to dissipate as everyone started laughing.
  • The fear dissipated as she realized it was just a false alarm.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

  • The word comes from the Latin 'dissipare', meaning 'to scatter' or 'to waste', which describes how something can spread out and become less concentrated.
  • The prefix 'dis-' often means 'apart' or 'away', while 'sipat' relates to 'to throw', illustrating the idea of throwing something away.

Science

  • In physics, heat dissipates as it moves from a warmer area to a cooler one, causing temperature differences to balance out.
  • In chemistry, gases can dissipate into the air when they are released from a container, spreading out until they are very thin.
  • Energy in systems will dissipate over time, often transforming into less useful forms, like heat loss in machines.

Psychology

  • Feelings like anger or sadness often dissipate when we take a break or talk about them, showing that emotions can lessen over time.
  • In mindfulness, the idea is to recognize thoughts that may dissipate naturally rather than clinging to them.

Environment

  • Pollutants can dissipate in the atmosphere, dispersing and becoming less harmful as they spread out.
  • The concept of vaporization in water, where liquid dissipates into gas, shows how materials can transform and spread into the environment.

Pop Culture

  • In storytelling, characters often feel anger or tension dissipate after a confrontation, leading to resolution.
  • In movies, special effects can depict scenes where magical elements dissipate into sparkles or mist to signify their end.

Translations

Translations of the word "dissipate" in other languages:

🇵🇹 dissipar

🇮🇳 विखंडित करना

🇩🇪 zerstreuen

🇮🇩 menyebar

🇺🇦 розсіювати

🇵🇱 rozpraszać

🇯🇵 散らす (chirasu)

🇫🇷 dissiper

🇪🇸 disipar

🇹🇷 dağıtmak

🇰🇷 흩어지다 (heuteojida)

🇸🇦 يتبدد (yatabaddad)

🇨🇿 rozptýlit

🇸🇰 rozptýliť

🇨🇳 消散 (xiāosàn)

🇸🇮 razpršiti

🇮🇸 dreifa

🇰🇿 тарату

🇬🇪 გაფანტვა

🇦🇿 dağıtmaq

🇲🇽 disipar

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #17,164, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.