defuse definition - Dictionary

Dictionary

de·fuse [ dee fyz ] (past and past participle de·fused, present participle de·fus·ing, 3rd person present singular de·fus·es)

transitive verb

Definition:

1. ease difficult situation: to make a situation less tense, dangerous, or uncomfortable

The diplomats tried to defuse the escalating crisis.

2. make bomb harmless: to make a bomb or mine harmless by removing its detonating device

Spelling Note


	defuse or diffuse? Do not confuse the spelling of defuse and diffuse, which sound similar. Defuse is only used as a verb, meaning "make something less dangerous or less tense," as in defuse a bomb, defuse the situation. Diffuse can be used as a verb or, with a slightly different pronunciation, as an adjective. The verb diffuse means "spread or scatter" or "make less intense," as in diffuse propaganda, diffuse the light.