Meaning

The act of dissipating or dispersing; a state of dispersion or separation; dispersion; waste..

Definitions by Sense

1. The act of dissipating or dispersing; a state of dispersion or separation; dispersion; waste.
2. A dissolute course of life, in which health, money, etc., are squandered in pursuit of pleasure; profuseness in immoral indulgence, as late hours, riotous living, etc.; dissoluteness.
3. A trifle which wastes time or distracts attention.
4. (physics) A loss of energy, usually as heat, from a dynamic system.

Example Sentences

without loss or dissipation of the matter

the famous dissipation of mankind

18th century, Patrick Henry in a parliamentary debate to reclaim the spendthrift from his dissipation and extravagance

I rose by candle-light, and consumed, in the intensest application, the hours which every other individual of our party wasted in enervating slumbers, from the hesternal dissipation or debauch.

He neither wept nor prayed; he cursed and defied: execrated God and man, and gave himself up to reckless dissipation.

[...] This is a surprise attack, and I’d no wish that the garrison, forewarned, should escape. I am sure, Lord Stranleigh, that he has been descanting on the distraction of the woods and the camp, or perhaps the metropolitan dissipation of Philadelphia, [...]

An oil lamp burned upon a high, old-fashioned mantel, casting its dim rays over a dozen repulsive figures. All but one were men. The other was a woman of about thirty. Her face, marked by low passions and dissipation, might once have been lovely.

Prevented from finishing them [the letters] a thousand avocations and dissipations.

Word Forms

• dissipations

Synonyms for dissipation

Related Words

When Should You Use Dissipation?

Use dissipation when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

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