suffusion

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   the spreading of a bodily fluid, especially blood, into surrounding tissue

   The rapid suffusion of blood into the tissue indicated a serious internal injury.

2. 2
   noun

   the gradual spreading of a color, light, feeling, or other quality over a surface or area

   A warm suffusion of pink spread across the evening sky.

From Latin suffusio, "a pouring over or spreading," from suffundere, "to pour beneath, pour upon, overspread." The Latin verb combines sub-, "under," with fundere, "to pour." The medical sense applies that image to fluid spreading through tissue.

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