1. to cause light, sound, or other waves to bend or spread out when they pass through an opening or around an obstacle
Usage: physics; technical

Examples

• The prism diffracts white light into a spectrum of colors.
• Sound waves diffract around corners, allowing us to hear around obstacles.
• The narrow slit diffracts the laser beam into multiple beams.
• Water waves diffract when they pass through the harbor entrance.
• The microscope uses a grating to diffract light for better resolution.
• Radio waves can diffract over hills and buildings.