First Known Use: 1590
Dictionary
suffuse
transitive verb suf·fuse \sə-ˈfyüz\
: to spread over or fill (something)
suf·fusedsuf·fus·ing
Full Definition of SUFFUSE
: to spread over or through in the manner of fluid or light : flush, fill <the northern horizon was suffused with a deep red glow — P. M. Leschak>
— suf·fu·sion \-ˈfyü-zhən\ noun
— suf·fu·sive \-ˈfyü-siv, -ziv\ adjective
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Origin of SUFFUSE
Latin suffusus, past participle of suffundere, literally, to pour beneath, from sub- + fundere to pour — more at found
Related to SUFFUSE
Synonym Discussion of SUFFUSE
infuse, suffuse, imbue, ingrain, inoculate, leaven mean to introduce one thing into another so as to affect it throughout. infuse implies a pouring in of something that gives new life or significance <new members infused enthusiasm into the club>. suffuse implies a spreading through of something that gives an unusual color or quality <a room suffused with light>. imbue implies the introduction of a quality that fills and permeates the whole being <imbue students with intellectual curiosity>. ingrain , used only in the passive or past participle, suggests the deep implanting of a quality or trait <clung to ingrained habits>. inoculate implies an imbuing or implanting with a germinal idea and often suggests stealth or subtlety <an electorate inoculated with dangerous ideas>. leaven implies introducing something that enlivens, tempers, or markedly alters the total quality <a serious play leavened with comic moments>.
Rhymes with SUFFUSE
abuse, accuse, amuse, Andrews, bad news, bemuse, berceuse, chanteuse, charmeuse, chartreuse, coiffeuse, confuse, contuse, danseuse, defuse, diffuse, diseuse, disuse, effuse, enthuse, excuse, ill-use, incuse, infuse, masseuse, misuse, perfuse, peruse, recluse, recuse, refuse, reuse, short fuse, Toulouse, transfuse, vendeuse
Medical Dictionary
suffuse
transitive verb suf·fuse \sə-ˈfyüz\
suf·fusedsuf·fus·ing
Medical Definition of SUFFUSE
: to flush or spread over or through in the manner of a fluid and especially blood
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