You searched for: “defuse
defuse (verb), defuses; defused; defusing
1. To remove the fuse from; such as, an explosive device.
2. To make less dangerous, tense, or hostile: "There was a diplomatic move by the ambassador that helped to defuse the international crisis."
This entry is located in the following units: de- (page 19) fus-, fun-, fund-, fut-, found- (page 2)
defuse, diffuse, diffuse
defuse (dee FYOOZ) (verb)
1. To remove the fuse from an explosive device: The special police had to defuse the bomb before they could enter the building.
2. To make less dangerous, tense, or hostile: The President made a diplomatic move that could defuse the crisis.
diffuse (di FYOOS; dee FYOOZ) (adjective)
Widely spread or scattered; not concentrated: The forest was filled with a soft, diffuse light.
diffuse (di FYOOS; dee FYOOZ) (verb)
To spread out and to move freely throughout a large area: The heat from the radiator seemed to diffuse throughout the room.

Before the basement could be safe again, a fan was used to help diffuse the fumes from the chemicals used for a bomb which the police had to defuse.