effuse
Americanverb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
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to exude; flow out.
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Physics. (of a gas) to flow through a very small orifice.
adjective
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scattered; profuse.
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Botany. spread out loosely.
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(of certain shells) having the lips separated by a gap or groove.
verb
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to pour or flow out
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to spread out; diffuse
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(intr) to talk profusely, esp in an excited manner
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to cause (a gas) to flow or (of a gas) to flow under pressure
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of effuse
1350–1400; Middle English < Latin effūs ( us ) (past participle of effundere ) poured out, equivalent to ef- ef- + fūsus poured ( see fuse 2)
Explanation
To effuse is to emit or give off. You know it's truly spring when the cherry trees in your neighborhood start to effuse a wonderfully sweet, floral scent. When something effuses, it seeps out in a way you can sense. Light effuses through the curtains in the morning, and the smell of waffles effuses from the kitchen on Saturday mornings. You can also describe a quality that emanates from someone using this verb: "My teacher effuses calmness and kindness, which is why everyone loves him." Effuse has a Latin root, effusus, "poured out."
Vocabulary lists containing effuse
"Song of Myself," Vocabulary from the poem
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Part 4 Vocabulary (Unit 2)
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
But she turned out nonetheless to effuse about the performance of Austin Butler in the Baz Luhrmann epic “Elvis” — and by extension the legacy of her father.
From Washington Post ● Jan. 13, 2023
Under the same conditions, at what rate will sulfur dioxide effuse?
From Textbooks ● Feb. 14, 2019
Though the accounts have been parroting talking points and effuse a preternatural affection for Amazon that one would think only artificial intelligence could muster, they do seem to be operated by actual people.
From Slate ● Aug. 24, 2018
It's not enough to effuse on air, he talks up every song while off it.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 17, 2018
Shell univalve, turbinated, inversely conic, convolute; aperture longitudinal, narrow, not toothed; base effuse; spire very short.
From Zoological Illustrations, Volume I or Original Figures and Descriptions of New, Rare, or Interesting Animals by Swainson, William
On Thursday, Furner and other executives effused over the capacity of Sparky, an AI assistant on Walmart's smartphone application that has lifted order volumes by 35 percent compared with customers who haven't used the service.
From Barron's ● Feb. 19, 2026
“He may be the perfect human being,” effused one anonymous fan.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 12, 2025
“I love you more than words can ever say, And I will always be there for you,” Bard effused.
From Washington Times ● Mar. 27, 2023
Three years later, Christine Lagarde, then the head of the International Monetary Fund, effused that Nabiullina could make “central banking sing.”
From Seattle Times ● May 8, 2022
Moths effused from the chimneys of the Merchants’ Guildhall.
From "Strange the Dreamer" by Laini Taylor
Paul Thomas Anderson, whom Jr. says, "Is the son my dad wishes he had," is seen effusing about Sr. in various clips, and accompanies his hero on a train ride.
From Salon ● Dec. 2, 2022
Pavement was once the ’90s quintessential indie rock band, effusing an air of equal parts defiance and nonchalance, half-singing erudite lyrics while flashing an in-the-know glance.
From Seattle Times ● Oct. 12, 2022
A smiling girl effusing about her love for exercise on the internet is not only palatable but highly lucrative, I’ve learned.
From Slate ● Feb. 1, 2022
It probably would have remained in the category of restaurant-food-best-left-to-professionals, had the restaurant owner, Anita Jaisinghani, not offered me the recipe when I couldn’t stop effusing about the dish.
From New York Times ● Oct. 6, 2017
Here he is master, too, of his English, thriftily culling the fit word, not effusing a too exuberant stream of description.
From Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 57, No. 355, May 1845 by Various
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.