Dispersal
/dɪˈspɜːrsəl/
Definitions
The action or process of spreading things or people over a wide area.
/dɪˈspɜːrsəl/
The act or process of distributing things or people over a wide area.
The rapid dispersal of the protesters by the police was swift.
💡 Simply: Imagine you have a bag of marbles and throw them everywhere. Dispersal is like that – it's the act of spreading things apart and letting them go different directions. Think of a crowd of people leaving a concert, each person going to a different place.
👶 For kids: When things spread out, like when you throw seeds and they go everywhere to grow new plants.
More Examples
The scientist studied the dispersal of pollen by the wind.
The dispersal of refugees across the country was a major challenge.
Scientists are studying bird seed dispersal as a means of introducing new plant life.
How It's Used
"Seed dispersal is crucial for the spread of plant species."
"The military planned for the dispersal of troops across the battlefield."
"The dispersal of pollutants can have widespread effects."
From Middle English *dispersen* (to scatter), from Old French *disperser*, from Latin *dispergere* (to scatter, spread abroad), from *dis-* (apart) + *spargere* (to scatter).
The word 'dispersal' emerged in the late 16th century, initially used to describe the action of scattering or spreading something.
Memory tip
Think of the opposite of gathering. Dispersal spreads things out.