Ausbreiten

Ausbreiten is a German verb meaning to spread, extend, or diffuse, and it can describe the physical expansion of a surface or material, the expansion of phenomena over an area, or the dissemination of information, organisms, or signals. The noun Ausbreitung denotes the process or result of spreading.

As a separable verb, Ausbreiten is used with a separable prefix: present tense er breitet die Decke aus; past tense er breitete die Decke aus; perfect er hat die Decke ausgebreitet. In the reflexive form, sich ausbreiten, it describes something spreading on its own, e.g., Der Rauch breitet sich im Raum aus. The prefix aus- signals outward movement or coverage, and the verb is common in both scientific and everyday contexts.

In physics and engineering, one speaks of the Ausbreitung von Wellen, Licht oder Signalen, and of the Ausbreitungsgeschwindigkeit. In meteorology, geography and ecology, one discusses the Ausbreitung von Feuer, Rauch, Vegetation oder Arten. In epidemiology and public health, the term refers to the Ausbreitung einer Krankheit within populations. In sociology or media studies, it is used for the Ausbreitung von Informationen, Trends oder Nachrichten über Kanäle und Netzwerke.

The term is closely related to but distinct from synonyms: verbreiten (to disseminate or spread, often of information or rumors), ausdehnen or erweitern (to extend in space or scope). Etymologically, aus- means outward and breiten means to spread, reflecting outward expansion.