diffraction

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/dɪˈfɹækʃən/

noun

The bending of a wave around an obstacle.

OriginNew Latin diffrāctiō ← Latin diffrāctus →
Less commonScrabble 20
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Meanings

noundiffraction (countable and uncountable, plural diffractions)

plural diffractions

  1. countableuncountablenatural sciencesThe bending of a wave around an obstacle.
  2. countableuncountablequantum mechanicsThe breaking up of an electromagnetic wave as it passes a geometric structure (e.g. a slit), followed by reconstruction of the wave by interference.

Origin

  1. Latindiffringo“to shatter, to break into pieces”
  2. Latindiffrāctus
  3. New Latindiffrāctiō
  4. Englishdiffraction

From New Latin diffrāctiō (in which coined by Francesco Maria Grimaldi), from Latin diffrāctus, past participle of Latin diffringo (“to shatter, to break into pieces”). Coined in Physico-mathesis de lumine (1665) by Francesco Maria Grimaldi.

More words from New Latin, Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bulgarian дифракция
  • дифракция (difrakcija)the breaking up of an electromagnetic wave as it passes a geometric structure
Catalan difracció
  • difraccióthe breaking up of an electromagnetic wave as it passes a geometric structure
Chinese Mandarin 衍射, 繞射 /绕射
  • 衍射 (yǎnshè)the breaking up of an electromagnetic wave as it passes a geometric structure
  • 繞射 /绕射 (ràoshè)the breaking up of an electromagnetic wave as it passes a geometric structure
Czech difrakce, ohyb
  • difrakcethe breaking up of an electromagnetic wave as it passes a geometric structure
  • ohybthe breaking up of an electromagnetic wave as it passes a geometric structure
Esperanto difrakto
  • difraktothe breaking up of an electromagnetic wave as it passes a geometric structure
Finnish diffraktio, taipuminen
  • diffraktiothe breaking up of an electromagnetic wave as it passes a geometric structure
  • taipuminenthe breaking up of an electromagnetic wave as it passes a geometric structure
French diffraction
  • diffractionthe breaking up of an electromagnetic wave as it passes a geometric structure
German Beugung
  • Beugungthe breaking up of an electromagnetic wave as it passes a geometric structure
Greek διάθλαση
  • διάθλαση (diáthlasi)the breaking up of an electromagnetic wave as it passes a geometric structure
Hindi विवर्तन
  • विवर्तन (vivartan)the breaking up of an electromagnetic wave as it passes a geometric structure
Indonesian difraksi
  • difraksithe breaking up of an electromagnetic wave as it passes a geometric structure
Italian diffrazione
  • diffrazionethe breaking up of an electromagnetic wave as it passes a geometric structure
Māori raurahatanga, rorahatanga
  • raurahatangathe breaking up of an electromagnetic wave as it passes a geometric structure
  • rorahatangathe breaking up of an electromagnetic wave as it passes a geometric structure
Polish dyfrakcja
  • dyfrakcjathe breaking up of an electromagnetic wave as it passes a geometric structure
Russian дифра́кция
  • дифра́кция (difrákcija)the breaking up of an electromagnetic wave as it passes a geometric structure
Spanish difracción
  • difracciónthe breaking up of an electromagnetic wave as it passes a geometric structure
Thai การเลี้ยวเบน
  • การเลี้ยวเบน (gaan-líao-been)the breaking up of an electromagnetic wave as it passes a geometric structure
Vietnamese nhiễu xạ
  • nhiễu xạthe breaking up of an electromagnetic wave as it passes a geometric structure
Welsh diffreithiant
  • diffreithiantthe breaking up of an electromagnetic wave as it passes a geometric structure
Cite this entry
APA

diffraction. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/diffraction

MLA

“diffraction.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/diffraction. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “diffraction,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/diffraction.

Source: diffraction on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.