The act of scattering.

The state of being scattered, or separated into remote parts; as, the Jews, in their dispersion, retain their rites and ceremonies.

By way of eminence, the scattering or separation of the human family, at the building of Babel.

In optics, the divergency of the rays of light, or rather the separation of the different colored rays, in refraction, arising from their different refrangibilities. The point of dispersion, is the point where refracted rays begin to diverge.

In medicine and surgery, the removing of inflammation from a part, and restoring it to its natural state.