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dissipate

DISS-i-payt /ˈdɪsɪpeɪt/

verbC1GREGMATTOEFLIELTS

technicalacademicformal

To lose or scatter energy (such as heat or electricity) wastefully or transitionally from a system.

In thermodynamics and electronics, energy is never destroyed, only dissipated—meaning it is converted into an unusable form, usually waste heat, and released into the environment.

The story behind the word. From the Latin dissipatus, past participle of dissipare, meaning 'to scatter, disperse, or squander,' from dis- (apart) and the obscure verb supare (to throw). In physics, it describes throwing or scattering energy out into the universe.

Word relationships

disperse: Disperse means to scatter physical objects or crowds over a wide area, whereas dissipate usually refers to intangible things like heat, energy, or smoke fading away.

accumulate: Accumulate means to gather or build up energy or materials over time, the opposite of scattering or releasing them.

Commonly confused with

absorb: To absorb is to take energy in, whereas to dissipate is to scatter or release energy outward.

Word family

dissipation (noun): The loss of energy over time, or waste of resources.
dissipative (adjective): Characterized by or causing the loss or scattering of energy.

Collocations

dissipate heat
dissipate energy
power dissipation
quickly dissipate

Example sentences

"The aluminum heatsink is designed to dissipate the heat generated by the computer's central processor." Explaining computer cooling systems.
"Any restoration of energy which is not accompanied by a corresponding dissipation of energy is impossible." A classic scientific text on thermodynamics.

Memory hook

Think of a 'sip' of hot tea—you blow on it to 'dissipate' the heat so you can drink it. Dissipate throws heat away.

When not to use

Do not use dissipate when energy is being productively converted into another form (e.g., a motor converting electrical energy into mechanical work is not 'dissipating' it, but a resistor heating up is).

Fun facts

The energy dissipated as heat by all the world's data centers is so massive that some companies are now building them in the Arctic circle to use the freezing air for free cooling.