From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Dissipation \Dis'si*pa"tion\ (d[i^]s's[i^]*p[=a]"sh[u^]n), noun [L. dissipatio: cf. F. dissipation.]
1. The act of dissipating or dispersing; a state of dispersion or separation; dispersion; waste.
Without loss or dissipation of the matter. --Bacon.
The famous dissipation of mankind. --Sir M. Hale.
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.
To reclaim the spendthrift from his dissipation and extravagance. --P. Henry.
3. A trifle which wastes time or distracts attention.
Prevented from finishing them [the letters] a thousand avocations and dissipations. --Swift.
{Dissipation of energy}. Same as {Degradation of energy}, under {Degradation}.
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
noun
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}]
From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:
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
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