dissipate
dissipate
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for the word "dissipate" is: /ˈdɪs.ɪ.peɪt/
Here's a breakdown of the sounds in each syllable:
dis: /dɪs/
/d/ as in "dog"
/ɪ/ as in "bit"
/s/ as in "sit"
si: /sɪ/
/s/ as in "sit"
/ɪ/ as in "bit"
pate: /peɪt/
/p/ as in "pat"
/eɪ/ as in "face" (a diphthong)
/t/ as in "top"
Word Form Variations
The word "dissipate" primarily functions as a verb. Here are its common word form variations:
dissipate: (verb, present tense) This is the base form. Example: The fog began to dissipate.
dissipates: (verb, third-person singular present tense) Example: The sun dissipates the morning chill.
dissipated: (verb, past tense and past participle) Example: The crowd dissipated quickly. Also used as an adjective: He had a dissipated look.
dissipating: (verb, present participle and gerund) Example: The wind is dissipating the smoke.
dissipation: (noun) This is the noun form, referring to the act or process of dissipating. Example: The dissipation of his energy was alarming.
There aren't plural forms for "dissipate" since it's a verb. "Dissipation" is already a noun and doesn't typically have a plural form either (though in some very specific, technical contexts, one might discuss "dissipations" if referring to multiple, distinct instances of dissipation).
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Verb:
dissipate (v.): To cause to scatter or vanish; to gradually diminish or disappear. Often used in reference to things like fog, energy, or emotions.
Synonyms: scatter, disperse, dissolve, vanish, dwindle, evaporate, diffuse, dispel
Antonyms: gather, accumulate, collect, concentrate, intensify, strengthen
Example: The morning mist began to dissipate as the sun rose. His anger dissipated after a good night's sleep.
Noun:
dissipation (n.): The act or process of dissipating; a gradual decrease or disappearance; wasteful expenditure or squandering, especially of resources or energy. Can also refer to a lifestyle of excessive indulgence in pleasure, often with negative connotations.
Synonyms: dispersal, scattering, dissolution, evaporation, depletion, squandering, wastefulness, indulgence, profligacy
Antonyms: accumulation, concentration, conservation, preservation, frugality, restraint, temperance
Example: The dissipation of his savings left him in a difficult financial position. He was known for his dissipation of energy on frivolous pursuits.
Adjective:
dissipated (adj.): Showing the effects of excessive indulgence in pleasure or activities; appearing worn out or exhausted, often with a hint of recklessness. Can also describe something that has been scattered or dispersed.
Synonyms: debauched, dissolute, profligate, unrestrained, exhausted, worn-out, haggard, scattered, dispersed
Antonyms: healthy, vigorous, energetic, restrained, temperate, concentrated, gathered
Example: He had a dissipated look about him, as if he hadn't slept in days. The dissipated crowd slowly made its way home.
Examples of Use
Books:
"The fog began to dissipate, revealing the quaint village nestled in the valley." (This is a hypothetical example, but representative of how "dissipate" might be used in a descriptive passage.) Many authors use "dissipate" in similar ways to describe weather, emotions, or other intangible things fading away.
Newspapers/Online Publications:
"Hopes for a quick resolution to the conflict began to dissipate as negotiations stalled." (News articles often use "dissipate" to describe diminishing hopes, support, or other abstract concepts.)
"The energy from the storm quickly dissipated, leaving behind only scattered showers." (This example, which could come from a weather report, uses "dissipate" in a more literal sense.)
Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
In a movie: "The tension in the room began to dissipate as the detective revealed the true killer." (Dialogue or narration in films often uses "dissipate" to describe changes in mood or atmosphere.)
In a video game: "The magical shield protecting the character began to dissipate under the enemy's attack." (Video games, especially fantasy or sci-fi ones, use "dissipate" in the context of powers, effects, or other game mechanics.)
General Public Discourse:
"My anger dissipated after I talked to my friend about the situation." (This is a common way people use "dissipate" in everyday conversation to describe their feelings.)
"The crowd began to dissipate after the concert ended." (This is a common use of "dissipate" to describe a crowd breaking up.)
"He was warned about the dissipation of his funds through reckless investments." (This example uses "dissipation" to describe the wasteful spending of money.)
10 Famous Quotes Using Dissipate
"Do not dissipate your energies in pursuit of too many things. Concentrate on the great and worthy task before you." — Swami Vivekananda
"Time is what we want most, but what we use worst; it is dissipated in trifles." — William Penn
"Anger dwells only in the bosom of fools; wisdom dissipates it before it burns." — Albert Einstein
"Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow, it only dissipates today of its strength." — Corrie Ten Boom
"Great minds must be ready not only to grasp ideas, but to dissipate illusions." — Karl Marx
"The morning is wiser than the evening; night dissipates, and with it much fear." — Fyodor Dostoevsky
"Do not dissipate your powers in too much company. Keep your own soul for your own influence." — Ralph Waldo Emerson
"The mists of ignorance dissipate only in the light of education." — Thomas Jefferson (paraphrased)
"Luxury is the wolf at the door of every man; it dissipates vigor and corrupts character." — Henry David Thoreau
"The clouds of sorrow dissipate when the sun of love shines strong enough." — Victor Hugo
Etymology
The word "dissipate" comes from Latin. It's built from two parts:
dis-: This prefix means "apart" or "away." Think of words like "disappear" or "distract"—they all have that sense of something moving away or being separated.
sipare: This Latin word means "to scatter." It's related to the word "supare," which means "to throw" or "to scatter." Imagine scattering seeds—that's the core idea behind "sipare."
So, if you put those parts together (dis- + sipare), you get "dissipate," which literally means "to scatter apart" or "to drive away in different directions."
The first known use of "dissipate" in English dates back to the early 1600s. Even then, it had pretty much the same meaning it does today: to cause something to scatter or vanish, like mist dissipating in the sun. It was used to describe things like clouds, vapors, and even emotions or feelings fading away. So, the meaning hasn't changed much over the centuries! It has always carried that core idea of scattering and vanishing.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Dissipate
Phrases (Original/Less Common):
Dissipate one's energies: This phrase suggests wasting or scattering one's energy on unimportant things. It's not a widely used idiom, but it's a logical and understandable phrase.
Dissipate into thin air: This evokes the image of something vanishing completely and mysteriously. It plays on the literal meaning of "dissipate."
Dissipate the tension: This describes easing or relieving tension, like a cloud dissipating.
Dissipate like morning mist: This simile uses a common image to illustrate the idea of something fading quickly.
Phrases using Synonyms:
Scatter to the winds: This idiom captures the idea of something being dispersed or lost completely. It's similar in effect to dissipating.
Vanish without a trace: This expresses the complete disappearance of something, similar to the result of dissipation.
Fade into oblivion: This emphasizes the gradual disappearance and forgetting of something.
Disperse the crowd: This is a common phrase, particularly used by law enforcement, and similar to the idea of a crowd dissipating.
Why "Dissipate" Isn't Used in Many Idioms:
As mentioned before, "dissipate" is a rather formal and technical word. Idioms tend to be more informal and rooted in everyday language. The concept of dissipation is often expressed through more vivid and common words like "scatter," "vanish," "fade," or "disperse," which are more likely to be used in idiomatic expressions. Also, the abstract nature of "dissipate" makes it less suitable for the metaphorical comparisons that often form the basis of idioms.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of dissipate from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
