noun

dispersion

dih-SPUR-zhun/dɪˈspɜːrʒn/

The spreading of components over a wider range.

Strong winds increase the dispersion of seeds across open fields.

Windborne dandelion seeds spread from one partly bare seed head across a wide open area, with increasing separation making dispersion visible.

Etymology

disLatinapart; in every direction

+persLatinscatter

+ionLatinact or process

The pieces describe scattering in different directions. An early English use named the Jewish diaspora; the word broadened to the act of scattering or the resulting spread over an area.

More examples

The model predicts the dispersion of smoke over nearby towns.
The test scores show greater dispersion this year.
A prism produces dispersion by separating white light into colors.

Forms

dispersion · dispersions

disperse verb — To spread things over a wider area.

Similar words

distribution: Emphasizes how things are arranged, not necessarily spreading outward.
diffusion: Usually describes gradual spreading through a medium or population.
scattering: Suggests separate items spreading in several directions, often irregularly.