Definitions
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
- adj. Botany Spreading out loosely.
- v. To pour out (a liquid).
- v. To radiate; diffuse.
- v. To spread or flow out.
- v. To ooze forth; exude.
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- To pour out, as a fluid; spill; shed.
- Poured out freely; profuse.
- In botany: Very loosely spreading, as a panicle, etc.
- In lichenology, spread out without definite form or figure: opposed to effigurate.
- In zoology: In conchology, applied to shells where the aperture is not whole behind, but the lips are separated by a gap or groove.
- In entomology, loosely joined; composed of parts which are almost separated from one another: opposed to compact or coarctate.
- n. Effusion; outpouring; loss; waste.
- To flow, as a fluid, through an aperture or through a porous partition the openings in which are large compared with the diameter of a molecule.
Wiktionary
- adj. spread out
- v. to emit; to give off
- v. to gush; to be excitedly talkative and enthusiastic about something
- v. to leak out through a small hole
GNU Webster's 1913
- adj. Poured out freely; profuse.
- adj. Disposed to pour out freely; prodigal.
- adj. Spreading loosely, especially on one side.
- adj. Having the lips, or edges, of the aperture abruptly spreading; -- said of certain shells.
- n. Effusion; loss.
- v. To pour out like a stream or freely; to cause to exude; to shed.
- v. To emanate; to issue.
WordNet 3.0
- v. give out or emit (also metaphorically)
- v. flow or spill forth
- v. pour out
Etymologies
- Latin effūsus, past participle of effundere, to pour out : ex-, ex- + fundere, to pour; see gheu- in Indo-European roots.
Examples
“It's been two weeks since Jon Stewart went on Chris Wallace's Fox News show for one of his most highly anticipated interviews and both hosts are still continuing to effuse.”
“I effuse my flash in eddies, and drift it in lacy jags.”
The Huffington Post: Steve Heilig: The Greatest Poetry Reading Ever?
“Whereas our analogues on the right used to effuse over how W. was doing a helluva job even as the country went to hell, we mutter or post disparaging comments about how Obama has let us down.”
The Huffington Post: Mark Klempner: Hope 2.0: Standing With Obama Over the Long Haul
“Would he be as effuse in writing about his native Florida or his more recent residence in California?”
“I effuse my flesh in eddies, and drift it in lacy jags.”
“She merely articulated the fact that almost everyone else is scrambling to avoid: even as they effuse over the plan to elect "the first black president.”
“When Barry created her "100 Poses of Marlys" series several years ago, I ordered one of the pieces, sending in my order with a fan letter so gushingly effuse I'd be embarrassed about it now if it weren't for the fact that I meant -- and still mean -- every word.”
“[5653] Mertila, in Aristaenetus, swore she would never love Pamphilus again, and did moderate her passion, so long as he was absent; but the next time he came in presence, she could not contain, effuse amplexa attrectari se sinit, &c., she broke her vow, and did profusely embrace him.”
“I'm waiting till after part two of Who to be able to effuse in full about it.”
“Former 18th men effuse over the experience of being in the pit, feeling like members of the team.”
Lists
These user-created lists contain the word ‘effuse’.
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rays & x-rays
raised rays
cow-nosed ray, x-ray, roentgenogram, radiogram, sunray, tomograph, whipparee, oxeye, thulium, raster, moonbeam, robinia and 86 more...
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T'ain't going to drain no more
wordie stoppers: without refrain: stanza on its own: lotion motion: T'ain't going to drain no moor
nanopyle, nanonize, nanocosm, ombromombo, misle(ad), nanostrobos, nanomini, peerl, serein, hyetalous, pelter, sluiciest and 43 more...
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Water Verbs
deluge, pour, leak, flood, flow, gush, flush, drizzle, rain, spill, drop, spout and 15 more...
yarb Citation on muskiness. Jun 22, 2008
brtom I will effuse egotism and show it underlying all, and I will be the
bard of personality
Whitman, "Starting from Paumanok" Jan 9, 2008