dissipation

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   The act of dissipating or dispersing

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

   • without loss or dissipation of the matter
   • the famous dissipation of mankind
2. 2

   A dissolute course of life, in which health, money, etc., are squandered in pursuit of…

   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.

   • 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.
3. 3

   A trifle which wastes time or distracts attention.

   • Prevented from finishing them [the letters] a thousand avocations and dissipations.
4. ›+ 1 more definitionshow fewer

   1. 4

      A loss of energy, usually as heat, from a dynamic system.

      • They conclude[…] the planet will have a final period of rotation between 56 and 88 days, depending on the assumed form of the dissipation function.

The neighborhood