adj. 1 spread (out or about or around), scattered, dispersed, widespread; sparse, meagre, thin (on the ground) A few diffuse clouds could be seen on the horizon 2 wordy, verbose, prolix, long-winded, loquacious, discursive, digressive, rambling, circumlocutory, meandering, roundabout, circuitous, periphrastic, ambagious, diffusive, pleonastic The style of the book is very diffuse, being extravagantly uneconomic of expression
v. 3 spread, circulate, distribute, dispense, disperse; dispel, scatter, broadcast, sow, disseminate; dissipate The colour rapidly diffused, turning the liquid crimson She has successfully diffused her ideas of female equality throughout the community.