▪ I. diˈffract, a. Bot.
[ad. L. diffract-us broken in pieces: see next.]
Of lichens: ‘Broken into areolæ with distinct interspaces.’ Syd. Soc. Lex. 1883.
▪ II. diffract, v.
(dɪˈfrækt)
[f. L. diffract-, ppl. stem of diffring-ĕre to break in pieces, shatter, f. dif-, dis- 1 + frangĕre to break.]
trans. To break in pieces, break up; in Optics, To deflect and break up (a beam of light) at the edge of an opaque body or through a narrow aperture or slit; to affect with diffraction. Also fig.
| 1803 Young in Phil. Trans. XCIV. 2 These fringes were the joint effects of the portions of light passing on each side of the slip of card, and inflected, or rather diffracted, into the shadow. 1839 Carlyle Chartism i. (1858) 7 It is..for some obscure distorted image of right that he contends; an obscure image diffracted, exaggerated, in the wonderfullest way. |
Hence diˈffracted, diˈffracting ppl. adjs.
| 1849 H. Rogers Ess. (1860) III. 222 The diffracted appearance of various parts. 1873 Tyndall Lect. Light ii. 92 The diffracting particles were becoming smaller. 1876 J. Martineau Hours Th. (1877) 292 The devout [mind] ascends beyond all diffracted or intercepted rays to the primal light that flings them. |