[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

dissipation \dis`sipa"tion\ di^s`si^p=a"shu^n, n.
   l. dissipatio: cf. f. dissipation.
   1. the act of dissipating or dispersing; a state of
      dispersion or separation; dispersion; waste.
      1913 webster

            without loss or dissipation of the matter. --bacon.
      1913 webster

            the famous dissipation of mankind.    --sir m. hale.
      1913 webster

   2. a dissolute course of life, in which health, money, etc.,
      are squandered in pursuit of pleasure; profuseness in
      vicious indulgence, as late hours, riotous living, etc.;
      dissoluteness.
      1913 webster

            to reclaim the spendthrift from his dissipation and
            extravagance.                         --p. henry.
      1913 webster

   3. a trifle which wastes time or distracts attention.
      1913 webster

            prevented from finishing them the letters a
            thousand avocations and dissipations. --swift.
      1913 webster

   dissipation of energy. same as degradation of energy,
      under degradation.
      1913 webster
see also:
dissipation of energy degradation of energy degradation 

[2] : WordNet (r) 2.0

dissipation
     n 1: breaking up and scattering by dispersion; "the dissipation
          of the mist"
     2: dissolute indulgence in sensual pleasure syn: profligacy,
         dissolution, licentiousness
     3: useless or profitless activity; using or expending or
        consuming thoughtlessly or carelessly; "if the effort
        brings no compensating gain it is a waste"; "mindless
        dissipation of natural resources" syn: waste, wastefulness
see also:
profligacy dissolution licentiousness waste wastefulness 

[3] : Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0

140 moby thesaurus words for "dissipation":
   abandon, abandonment, ablation, amusement, attenuation, attrition,
   blackout, blocking, broadcast, broadcasting, carousal, carouse,
   carpe diem, circumfusion, conspicuous consumption, consumption,
   corrosion, debauch, debauchery, debauchment, decrease, decrement,
   deliquescence, dematerialization, departure, depletion,
   depreciation, diffraction, diffusion, dilution, disappearance,
   disappearing, dispensation, dispersal, dispersion, dissemination,
   dissoluteness, dissolution, dissolving, distraction, distribution,
   divergence, diversion, divertissement, drain, eclipse, elimination,
   entertainment, erasure, erosion, evanescence, evaporation,
   exhaustion, expansion, expenditure, extinction, extravagance,
   fadeaway, fadeout, fading, fastness, fragmentation, free living,
   gallantry, going, hedonism, high living, impoverishment,
   incontinence, intemperance, killing pace, lavishness, leakage,
   leaking purse, libertinage, libertinism, license, licentiousness,
   loose purse strings, loss, melting, occultation, orgy,
   overgenerosity, overgenerousness, overindulgence, overliberality,
   passing, peppering, pound-foolishness, prodigality, profligacy,
   profuseness, profusion, propagation, publication, radiation,
   rakishness, reckless expenditure, reckless spending, recklessness,
   recreation, riotous living, saturnalia, scattering, scatterment,
   self-gratification, self-indulgence, sensualism, shotgun pattern,
   shrinkage, sowing, spattering, splay, spread, spreading,
   sprinkling, squandering, squandermania, strewing, sybaritism,
   unbridledness, using, using up, vanishing, vanishing point, venery,
   volatilization, voluptuousness, wantonness, wastage, waste,
   wastefulness, wear and tear, wearing, wearing away, wenching,
   whoring, wildness, wipe

Dissipation >> D Words
Dissipation, definition of term: Dissipation
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