Suffusion: meaning, definitions and examples

Use 'suffusion' when referring to a gradual spread of a color, light, or another quality over an area, typically creating a particular effect. It is often used in a more poetic or descriptive context.

• The sunset brought a suffusion of pink and orange across the sky.
• There was a warm suffusion of light in the room from the fireplace.

'Spread' is a general term used to describe something extending over a large area or among many people. It's commonly used in both everyday and formal contexts, covering a wide range of situations from food to diseases.

• The news of their engagement spread quickly among friends and family.
• Spread the butter evenly over the toast.

'Diffusion' is best used when talking about the process by which substances spread from areas of high concentration to areas of low concentration. It's common in scientific contexts, such as chemistry and physics.

• The diffusion of the perfume molecules could be smelled throughout the room.
• Diffusion is a key concept in understanding how gases mix.

'Dispersion' refers to the process of distributing things or people over a wide area. It is often used in a scientific or technical context, such as in optics (for light) or in describing populations or particles.

• The dispersion of light through a prism creates a rainbow.
• Ecologists study the dispersion patterns of animal populations.

Use 'suffusion' when describing the process of spreading a substance or color gradually, typically in a way that pervades a medium. It often suggests a gentle or subtle infusion.

• The sky had a suffusion of pink hues as the sun set

Use 'blurring' when discussing something becoming unclear, indistinct, or smeared, particularly in the context of vision, images, or boundaries. This term can be both physical and metaphorical.

• Her tears caused the words on the page to start blurring

Use 'softening' when indicating the process of making or becoming less hard, harsh, or intense. This can apply to textures, materials, sounds, lights, feelings, and even attitudes. It often implies a gentle touch.

• The artist was perfecting her sculpture by softening the edges

Use 'smudging' when referring to making a mark or stain by spreading or rubbing, often leaving a messy or dirty residue. This term typically carries a negative connotation and suggests a less controlled process than blurring or softening.

• He accidentally touched the wet ink, smudging the letters