suffuses

Suffuse is a verb meaning to spread through or over something, filling or saturating it with color, light, emotion, or a quality. It can be transitive, as in suffusing an object with a substance or attribute, or intransitive, often with a prepositional phrase such as “the room suffused with warm light.” The term is commonly used for gradual or pervasive spread rather than sudden application.

As a general sense, suffuse describes both physical and figurative permeation. Colors or lights can suffuse a scene, and emotions or atmospheres can suffuse a space or narrative, creating a mood or character. Typical collocations include suffuse with color, suffuse with light, and suffuse with emotion. In literary usage, suffuse is valued for conveying a soft, enveloping change rather than a sharp, explicit action.

Etymology and related forms: suffuse derives from Latin suffundere, meaning to pour upon or over, via earlier French and English transmissions. The related noun suffusion denotes the act or result of suffusing; suffused may function as an adjective describing something already permeated or filled with color, light, or feeling.

Usage notes: suffuse emphasizes gradual penetration and often a sense of gentleness or atmosphere. It is distinct from diffuse, which more commonly describes broad dispersal, whereas suffuse implies a more intimate or enveloping saturation. Example uses are common in descriptions of landscapes, interiors, or emotional states.