diffuse

Chief Constable Gavin Stephens, chair of the National Police Chiefs' Council, told the BBC people in leadership positions in the UK needed to think about how to "reduce and diffuse tension and not sow division".

The mystery can never linger too long without a wildly conspicuous hint at what’s really happening, or a bit of sudden shock comedy to diffuse the suspense.

For the more intangible cultural communities lost — like the music studios, rehearsal rooms and artists’ homes burned in both fires — recovery will be diffuse.

Improving the sensitivity is important for detecting releases from agriculture which are often much more diffuse than from oil and gas production.

Draper quickly diffused what could have been a tricky encounter, showing his superior quality and experience from the start.