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Vinony

diffraction

noun

  1. wave phenomenon
L31770 on Wikidata ↗

Wiktionary

Pronunciation: /dɪˈfɹækʃən/

noun

Etymology: From New Latin diffrāctiō (in which coined by Francesco Maria Grimaldi), from Latin diffrāctus, past participle of Latin diffringo (“to shatter, to break into pieces”). Coined in Physico-mathesis de lumine (1665) by Francesco Maria Grimaldi.

  1. The bending of a wave around an obstacle.
  2. 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.