dispersal

Everyday

1. Spreading things out over a wide area: seed dispersal. tree →
2. Making a crowd or group break up and go in different directions. tree →

In the lessons

In science «seed dispersal» means how plants spread their seeds — by wind, water, animals or bursting pods; police may order the dispersal of a crowd. Phrases: «seed dispersal», «dispersal by wind», «the dispersal of the crowd».

Examples

• Dandelion seeds use the wind for dispersal. tree →
• Birds help with seed dispersal when they eat berries. tree →
• Coconuts float, so water helps their dispersal. tree →
• The police ordered the dispersal of the crowd. tree →
• We learned about seed dispersal in science. tree →
• The dispersal of the smoke took an hour. tree →

Note

Noun from the verb «disperse» (spread out). Not the same as «disposal» (getting rid of something). Mostly a school science and formal word.