diffraction

== English == === 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. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /dɪˈfɹækʃən/ === Noun === diffraction (countable and uncountable, plural diffractions) (physics) The bending of a wave around an obstacle. (quantum mechanics) 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. ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== == French == === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /di.fʁak.sjɔ̃/ === Noun === diffraction f (plural diffractions) diffraction ==== Related terms ==== diffracter diffractif === Further reading === “diffraction”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012