Dissipate
DIS-uh-pate
/ˈdɪsɪpeɪt/
To scatter or cause to disappear; to disperse or spread out, especially energy, heat, or a feeling.
In thermodynamics, 'dissipate' often refers to the spreading out of energy, particularly heat, into a less concentrated and less useful form, contributing to an increase in entropy. It implies a loss of organized energy.
The story behind the word. The word 'dissipate' comes from the Latin verb 'dissipare,' which meant 'to scatter' or 'to disperse.' Imagine throwing seeds to the wind, or a cloud breaking apart and spreading out. This ancient root perfectly captures the idea of something breaking up and spreading out, whether it's energy, a crowd, or even a bad mood.
Word relationships
- Disperse: Very close in meaning, often interchangeable, but 'dissipate' can carry a stronger connotation of fading or wasting.
- Scatter: Implies a more active spreading of discrete items; 'dissipate' can apply to more abstract things like energy or feelings.
- Vanish: Suggests complete disappearance; 'dissipate' implies a gradual fading or spreading until no longer perceptible.
- Concentrate: To gather or focus in one place, the opposite of spreading out.
- Accumulate: To gather or collect over time.
Word family
- dissipation (noun): the act or process of dissipating
- dissipative (adjective): tending to dissipate energy
Collocations
- dissipate heat
- dissipate energy
- dissipate a crowd
- dissipate fears
- dissipate into thin air
Example sentences
- "Much of the electrical energy supplied to a light bulb will dissipate as heat rather than light." Describing energy loss.
- "The morning fog began to dissipate as the sun rose higher in the sky, revealing the landscape below." Referring to the fading of a phenomenon.
Memory hook
DIS-SIP-ATE: DISperse and SIP away until it's gone. Scatter Away
When not to use
As a direct synonym for 'destroy' or 'vanish' if the context implies a complete annihilation rather than a spreading out or fading away. It's about dispersal, not obliteration.
Fun facts
- In physics, 'dissipative systems' are those where energy is lost to the surroundings, often as heat.
- The term can also be used to describe wasting money or time, as in 'dissipating one's fortune'.
Related words
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