diffraction

Meaning

Noun

• The bending of a wave around an obstacle.
• 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.

Origin

• 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").