dispersed

Dispersed is an adjective meaning spread out or distributed over a wide area. It derives from the verb disperse, which comes from Latin dispergere, meaning to scatter apart. In everyday language, it describes objects, populations, or materials that are not concentrated but spread rather than grouped.

In science, dispersed describes a two-phase system in which particles of a dispersed phase are distributed within a continuous medium. Typical examples are colloids (such as milk or fog), emulsions (oil droplets in water), and suspensions (sand in water). Particle size generally places dispersed materials in the nanometer to micrometer range. The stability and appearance of dispersed systems depend on interactions between phases and on stabilizers that prevent aggregation, such as electrostatic or steric barriers. Key terms include the dispersed phase and the continuous phase; concentration, particle size, and the nature of the interfaces influence rheology and optical properties.

In ecology and geography, dispersed describes patterns of spatial distribution. A population may be dispersed, spread out, or evenly distributed rather than clustered. Species can show random, uniform, or clumped arrangements, influenced by resources, competition, and movement. Seed dispersal, animal migrations, and human transport affect dispersion. In urban planning and human geography, a dispersed settlement describes a pattern where buildings are spread across the landscape rather than concentrated in a town center.

In organizational contexts, dispersed can describe teams or offices that operate across multiple locations rather than from a single centralized hub. The term is often contrasted with centralized or clustered arrangements. Related concepts include diffusion, dispersion, and distribution, which describe how substances, ideas, or populations spread over space and time.