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Engulf vs Suffuse - What's the difference?

engulf | suffuse |

In transitive terms the difference between engulf and suffuse

is that engulf is to surround; to cover while suffuse is to spread through or over something, especially as a liquid, colour or light; to perfuse.

engulf

English

Verb

(en verb)
  • To overwhelm.
    • Desperation engulfed her after her daughter's death.
  • * 2013 June 18, , " Protests Widen as Brazilians Chide Leaders," New York Times (retrieved 21 June 2013):
    • Shaken by the biggest challenge to their authority in years, Brazil’s leaders made conciliatory gestures on Tuesday to try to defuse the protests engulfing the nation’s cities.
  • To surround; to cover.
    • Only Noah and his family survived when the Flood engulfed earth.

    suffuse

    English

    Verb

    (suffus)
  • To spread through or over something, especially as a liquid, colour or light; to perfuse.
    • The entire room was suffused with a golden light.
  • (figuratively) To spread through or over in the manner of a liquid.
    • The warmth suffused his cold fingers.

    Usage notes

    The verb is often used in the passive voice.

    Synonyms

    * diffuse

    Derived terms

    * suffusion * suffusive ----