Word: disperse (verb)

Associations

"Disperse" means to spread out or scatter in different directions. It is often used when people, objects, or substances move away from a central point.

• Police asked the crowd to disperse after the event. (People moved away in different directions.)
• The wind helped disperse the seeds across the field. (Seeds spread out over a large area.)
• The fog will disperse as the sun rises. (The fog will gradually disappear or spread thinly.)

A synonym is "scatter," but "disperse" often implies a more organized or natural spreading, while "scatter" can mean a quick or random spreading.

Substitution

You can use:

• scatter (more random or quick spreading)
• spread out (more general, less formal)
• dissipate (often used for things like fog, smoke, or energy disappearing)

Example: The crowd began to scatter when the rain started.

Deconstruction

• Prefix: "dis-" means "apart" or "away."
• Root: "perse" comes from Latin "spargere," meaning "to scatter." So, "disperse" literally means "to scatter apart."

Inquiry

• Can you think of a time when you saw people disperse in a public place?
• How is "disperse" different when talking about people versus talking about seeds or fog?
• What other natural things can disperse in the environment?