C2verbsciencenature
US/dɪˈspɜːrs/
UK/dɪˈspɜːs/
to spread over a wide area, or to make people or things go in different directions
In context
Birds and bats help disperse seeds across the forest.
Strong winds finally dispersed the smog in the afternoon.
Police used water cannon to disperse the crowd outside the factory.
Words that go with disperse
verb + noun
- disperse the crowdRiot police moved in to disperse the crowd.
- disperse seedsWind and animals disperse seeds far from the parent plant.
- disperse pollutantsTall chimneys disperse pollutants over a wider area.
adverb + verb
- widely dispersedPlastic particles are now widely dispersed across the ocean.
verb + adverb
- disperse quicklyThe fog dispersed quickly once the sun came out.