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diffraction 1. The bending of the rays of radiant energy (light, radar, radio signals, etc) around the edges of an obstacle or when passing near the edges of an opening, or through a small hole or slit, resulting in the formation of a spectrum, or arrangement by wavelength of the component waves, producing, for visible wavelengths, the chromatic spectrum. See also reflection, refraction. 2. The bending of a (sea) wave as it passes an obstruction.

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