dissipation
dissipation — noun
- dissipationsingular
- dissipationsplural
1. the way something spreads out, breaks apart, or slowly fades until it no longer
the way something spreads out, breaks apart, or slowly fades until it no longer exists in its original form
The morning sun caused the rapid dissipation of the thick fog over the valley.
dissipation + of + natural phenomenon
Scientists studied the dissipation of heat from the engine after hours of running.
The slow dissipation of the smoke took nearly an hour after the campfire died.
With no new members joining, the gradual dissipation of the club became hard to ignore.
The dissipation of the crowd after the concert finished was surprisingly quick and orderly.
- dispersal
focuses on the act of scattering rather than the gradual fading implied by dissipation
- diffusion
more technical, emphasising spread through a medium rather than disappearance
- scattering
implies active spreading in different directions, not necessarily fading
- accumulation
the opposite process of gathering or building up
- concentration
bringing things together instead of spreading them apart
文法句型
dissipation + of [something]
用法筆記
Often used with natural phenomena (fog, smoke, heat) or abstract collectives (crowd, interest, opposition). Frequently paired with adjectives like 'gradual', 'slow', or 'rapid'.
常見錯誤
2. the irreversible loss of useful energy from a physical system, often released as
the irreversible loss of useful energy from a physical system, often released as heat or sound and no longer available for productive work
Friction causes the dissipation of kinetic energy into heat in every moving machine.
dissipation of kinetic energy into heat
Engineers worked to reduce energy dissipation in the new braking system for electric cars.
Thermal dissipation is a critical factor when designing cooling systems for computer processors.
The dissipation of sound waves in the thick carpet made the room feel unusually quiet.
Solar panels lose some efficiency through the dissipation of heat on very hot afternoons.
文法句型
dissipation + of [energy/heat/power]
用法筆記
Primarily a physics and engineering term. In thermodynamics, dissipation always implies the conversion of ordered energy into disordered heat that cannot be fully recovered for useful work.
常見錯誤
3. a way of living that centres on excessive physical pleasure, heavy drinking, and
a way of living that centres on excessive physical pleasure, heavy drinking, and other habits that damage a person's health, finances, or moral character
His life of dissipation caught up with him when his health began to fail at fifty.
collocation: a life of dissipation
Stories of her dissipation shocked the conservative town where she grew up.
Omar spent his twenties in a haze of dissipation, gambling away his nights.
After years of dissipation, Kwame decided to change direction and live a quieter, healthier life.
The novel paints a vivid picture of the dissipation of the aristocracy in pre-revolutionary Paris.
- debauchery
stronger, emphasising immoral sexual behaviour rather than general self-indulgence
- indulgence
milder and less negative; can refer to occasional treats rather than a lifestyle
- profligacy
combines self-indulgence with wastefulness, especially of money
- restraint
the practice of controlling one's desires and impulses
- moderation
avoiding extremes in behaviour or consumption
文法句型
a life of dissipation
a state of dissipation
用法筆記
Frequently carries a moral judgement: the speaker or writer implies the behaviour is self-destructive or socially unacceptable. Often appears in historical or literary descriptions of elite social circles.
常見錯誤
4. the careless or thoughtless use of money, resources, or assets until little or n
the careless or thoughtless use of money, resources, or assets until little or nothing is left, often through unnecessary or showy purchases
The company's dissipation of its funds on luxury offices soon led to bankruptcy.
dissipation + of + funds
Ananya's dissipation of the family fortune on fast cars angered her parents deeply.
The dissipation of public money on unnecessary stadium projects drew strong criticism from local voters.
By the time she turned thirty, the dissipation of her savings was nearly complete.
Critics accused the director of the dissipation of museum funds on personal travel.
- squandering
more informal and direct; implies a known opportunity that was wasted
- waste
simpler and broader; dissipation carries a stronger sense of luxurious or careless excess
文法句型
dissipation + of [money/funds/resources/wealth]
用法筆記
Close in meaning to Sense 3 but focused on the financial dimension. Where Sense 3 refers to a lifestyle, Sense 4 refers to the act of wasting specific resources such as money, savings, or public funds.