diffract

verb

dif·​fract di-ˈfrakt How to pronounce diffract (audio)
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
And crystals were defined as matter that diffracts with these Bragg peaks, with these sharp, bright spots. — Quanta Magazine, 3 July 2024 This structure can diffract light and degrade image quality. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 14 Jan. 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for diffract

Word History

Etymology

back-formation from diffraction

First Known Use

1803, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of diffract was in 1803

Rhymes for diffract

See All Rhymes for diffract

Browse Nearby Words

difformity
diffract
diffraction
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Diffract.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diffract. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

diffract

verb
dif·​fract dif-ˈrakt How to pronounce diffract (audio)
: to cause to go through diffraction

Medical Definition

diffract

transitive verb
dif·​fract dif-ˈrakt How to pronounce diffract (audio)
: to cause to undergo diffraction
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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