The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
diffract — 1803, perhaps a back formation from DIFFRACTION (Cf. diffraction). Related: Diffracted; diffracting … Etymology dictionary
diffract — [di frakt′] vt. [< L diffractus, pp. of diffringere, to break in pieces < dis , apart + frangere, BREAK] to subject to diffraction … English World dictionary
diffract — [dɪ frakt] verb Physics cause to undergo diffraction. Derivatives diffractive adjective diffractively adverb Origin C19: from L. diffract , diffringere break in pieces … English new terms dictionary
diffract — diffraction ► NOUN Physics ▪ the process by which a beam of light or other system of waves is spread out as a result of passing through a narrow aperture or across an edge. DERIVATIVES diffract verb diffractive adjective. ORIGIN Latin, from… … English terms dictionary
diffract — v.tr. Physics (of the edge of an opaque body, a narrow slit, etc.) break up (a beam of light) into a series of dark or light bands or coloured spectra, or (a beam of radiation or particles) into a series of alternately high and low intensities.… … Useful english dictionary
diffract — transitive verb Etymology: back formation from diffraction Date: 1803 to cause to undergo diffraction … New Collegiate Dictionary
diffract — /di frakt /, v.t. to break up or bend by diffraction. [1795 1805; back formation from DIFFRACTION] * * * … Universalium
diffract — verb a) To cause diffraction b) To undergo diffraction … Wiktionary
diffract — dif·fract dif rakt vt to cause to undergo diffraction … Medical dictionary
diffract — dif|fract [dıˈfrækt] v [T] technical to bend light or sound waves as they pass around something or through a hole →↑refract >diffraction [dıˈfrækʃən] n [U] … Dictionary of contemporary English
