diffraction
English
/dɪˈfɹækʃən/
noun
Definitions
- (physics) The bending of a wave around an obstacle.
- (quantum mechanics) The breaking up of an electromagnetic wave as it passes a geometric structure (e.g. a slit), followed by reconstruction of the wave by interference.
Etymology
Root from Proto-Indo-European *bʰreg- (break, crack, split).
Origin
Proto-Indo-European
*bʰreg-
Gloss
break, crack, split
Concept
Semantic Field
Basic actions and technology
Ontological Category
Action/Process
Emoji
💔
Timeline
Distribution of cognates by language
Geogrpahic distribution of cognates
Cognates and derived terms
- break English
- diffractionist English
- diffractionless English
- microdiffraction English
- refract English
- refraction English
- refringence English
- subdiffraction English
- confringere Latin
- diffractus Latin
- fractio Latin
- fractura Latin
- fractūra Latin
- fragilis Latin
- fragmentum Latin
- frangere Latin
- frango Latin
- frāctura Latin
- frāctus Latin
- frāctūra Latin
- infractio Latin
- infringere Latin
- refrenare Latin
- brechen German
- erbrechen German
- breken Dutch, Flemish
- *bʰreHg- Proto-Indo-European
- *bʰreg- Proto-Indo-European
- *bʰrāg- Proto-Indo-European
- *brak- Proto-Germanic
- *brekaną Proto-Germanic
- *brekō Proto-Germanic
- *brukka- Proto-Germanic
- *brukkô Proto-Germanic
- broiier Old French
- răsfrânge Romanian, Moldavian, Moldovan
- brehhan Old High German
- 𐌱𐍂𐌹𐌺𐌰𐌽 Gothic
- 𐌲𐌰𐌱𐍂𐌹𐌺𐌰𐌽 Gothic
- 𐌲𐌰𐌱𐍂𐌿𐌺𐌰 Gothic
- brejo Old Portuguese
- breka Old Frisian
- *breg(i)štā Proto-Albanian