dissipate

Everyday

1. To slowly disappear or spread out until gone, as in «The fog dissipated». tree →
2. To make something disappear or fade, as in «The wind dissipated the smoke». tree →
3. (science) To lose energy, usually as heat, as in «Energy is dissipated as heat». tree →
4. To waste money or energy foolishly. tree →

In the lessons

In science: energy is often «dissipated» as heat or sound, which is why machines are never 100% efficient. In geography and weather, fog, clouds and storms dissipate. In stories, anger or fear «dissipates» when a character calms down. It is a formal word.

Examples

• By noon the fog had dissipated. tree →
• The crowd slowly dissipated after the match. tree →
• Her anger dissipated when she heard the truth. tree →
• Some of the energy is dissipated as heat. tree →
• The storm dissipated before it reached the coast. tree →
• The laptop has a fan to dissipate heat. tree →
• Throughout one entire year Noureddin did nothing but amuse himself, and dissipate the wealth his father had taken such pains to acquire. tree →

Note

Formal; in everyday talk say «clear», «fade» or «spread out». Spelling: double s, one p: «dis-si-pate». A «dissipated» person (adjective) is one who has wasted their life on bad habits — old-fashioned.