disperse
The crowd began to disperse after the concert ended.
The group of people started to separate and walk away in different directions.
to cause a group of people or things to separate and move in different directions
Police used tear gas to disperse the protesters.
Police used tear gas to force the protesters to separate and leave the area.
Often used in contexts involving crowds, particles, or light.
to spread out over a wide area
The dye will disperse evenly in the water.
The dye will spread out uniformly throughout the water.
Common in chemistry and physics regarding particles or waves.
Collocations
Pro Tip
Formal vs. Informal
Use 'disperse' in formal writing or news reports about crowds. In casual conversation, 'scatter' or 'spread out' is more natural.
Gold Rule
Transitivity
Disperse can be transitive (police dispersed the crowd) or intransitive (the crowd dispersed). Both are correct.
Word Origin
From Latin dispergere, meaning 'to scatter abroad', from dis- 'apart' + spergere 'to sprinkle'.
Usage Notes
Disperse is more formal than 'scatter'. It is often used for crowds, clouds, or particles. It implies a movement from a concentrated state to a spread-out state.