Disseminate
/dɪˈsɛmɪˌneɪt/
verbC1
Definition
To disseminate something is to share or spread it over a large area or among many people. It is often used for information, news, or ideas that need to reach a wide audience. The word suggests active effort to make something known to many.
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See It in Action
To spread information or ideas widely
- •The government disseminated information about the new health rules.
- •Scientists disseminate their research results through journals.
- •Schools disseminate knowledge to help students learn.
To scatter or spread things like seeds or particles
- •Farmers disseminate seeds across the field in spring.
- •The machine disseminates small drops of water evenly.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "disseminate" like "tell," but instead of telling one person, you tell many people everywhere
- ✓Imagine throwing many small seeds into a field so they spread out and grow in many places
- ✓It feels like when you share exciting news with all your friends so everyone knows about it
- ✓Sounds like "dis-SEM-in-ate" → imagine sending out "seeds" (sem) of information to grow in many minds
- ✓Think of newspapers or the internet spreading news quickly to lots of people
- ✓NOT like "whisper" (telling quietly to one or few), "disseminate" spreads loudly and widely
- ✓NOT like "keep" or "hide" information, "disseminate" means to share openly and broadly
- ✓NOT like "teach" (which is more personal and slow), "disseminate" is fast and broad sharing
Try Other Words
- •Spread: to move or open over a large area (Use when the context is informal or simple)
- •Circulate: to move or pass something around many people (Use when talking about information or documents moving between groups)
- •Broadcast: to send out information by radio, TV, or internet (Use when sharing information using media)
- •Distribute: to give out or deliver to many people (Use when physically giving things or information to many)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: prefix "dis-" (apart, away) + root "semin" (seed) + suffix "-ate" (verb form) → means to scatter seeds apart
- •Etymology: From Latin "disseminare," meaning "to scatter or sow seeds"
- •Historical development: Originally used for planting seeds, later used metaphorically for spreading ideas or information
- •Modern usage: Commonly used in formal contexts to describe sharing information widely, especially in education, media, and communication
Reflect & Connect
•How does the way we disseminate information today differ from the past, before the internet?
•Can disseminating information ever be harmful? When might it be better not to disseminate something?
Fill in the blanks
1.The health department disseminate information ___ the public to prevent disease.
2.Teachers disseminate knowledge ___ their students to help them understand new ideas.
3.Unlike whispering to one friend, disseminate means to share information ___ many people.
4.When a company disseminates news, it often uses email or social media to ___ it quickly.
5.Scientists disseminate research results through journals so other experts can ___ their work.
6.Disseminate is different from hide because it means to ___ information openly.
7.The machine disseminates water drops ___ across the plants to keep them healthy.