Definition of: disperse

(dis·pûrs′) v. ·persed, ·pers·ing v.t.
1. To cause to scatter and go off in various directions.
2. To dispel; dissipate: The sun dispersed the mists.
3. To spread abroad; diffuse.
4. To separate (light) into its component spectral colors.
—v.i.
5. To scatter and go off in various directions; dissipate. See synonyms under SPREAD. [<MF disperser <L dispersus, pp. of dispergere <dis- away + spargere scatter]
—dis·pers′i·ble adjective
—dis·per′sive adjective