diffract

verb

dif·​fract di-ˈfrakt 

diffracted; diffracting; diffracts

transitive verb

: to cause to undergo diffraction

Examples of diffract in a Sentence

Light is diffracted when it passes through a prism.

Recent Examples on the Web

The comet passed between the sun and Earth in late September and October, so light diffracted (bent around) by dust grains in the tail, which were concentrated in the direction of Earth. —Jamie Carter, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024

And crystals were defined as matter that diffracts with these Bragg peaks, with these sharp, bright spots. —Quanta Magazine, 3 July 2024

Christopher McFadden 24 days ago 0 Science Scientists create thinnest lens in history, measuring only 3 atoms thick Instead of refraction, the world’s thinnest lens works by diffracting light and that too of specific wavelengths. —Interesting Engineering, 23 June 2024

As a result, some of the diffracting light inside the crystal interferes destructively. —Susumu Noda, IEEE Spectrum, 14 Apr. 2024

This was bolstered by Max Von Laue's Nobel Prize-winning discovery that crystals could diffract x-rays. —Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 26 Dec. 2023

For example, a diffractive optical neural network is composed of a stack of layers, each possessing thousands of pixels that can diffract, or scatter, light. —IEEE Spectrum, 16 July 2022

The starburst is created by sunlight diffracting into uniform rays on the camera’s sensor. —Kevin Ambrose, Washington Post, 7 May 2023

For example, a diffractive optical neural network is composed of a stack of layers, each possessing thousands of pixels that can diffract, or scatter, light. —IEEE Spectrum, 16 July 2022

Word History

Etymology

back-formation from diffraction

First Known Use

1803, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for diffract

• abstract
• attacked
• attract
• contact
• contract
• detract
• distract
• enact
• exact
• extract
• hijacked
• impact

Kids Definition

diffract

verb

dif·​fract dif-ˈrakt 

: to cause to go through diffraction

Medical Definition

diffract

transitive verb

dif·​fract dif-ˈrakt 

: to cause to undergo diffraction