n.1 the act or an instance of dispersing; the process of being dispersed.
2 Chem. a mixture of one substance dispersed in another.
3 Physics the separation of white light into colours or of any radiation according to wavelength.
4 Statistics the extent to which values of a variable differ from the mean.
5 (the Dispersion) the Jews dispersed among the Gentiles after the Captivity in Babylon.
Etymology: ME f. LL dispersio (as DISPERSE), transl. Gk diaspora: see DIASPORA