What is dissipated?

In everyday language, dissipated can mean something that has been wasted or used up in excess, such as money, time, or energy. However, in scientific contexts, dissipated typically refers to the transformation of energy from one form to another where some of the energy is lost or converted into a less useful form. For example, friction in a machine can dissipate energy in the form of heat, reducing the efficiency of the machine. Dissipation is also a key concept in thermodynamics, where it refers to the transfer of heat energy from a hotter to a cooler body, resulting in a decrease in usable energy. Overall, dissipated typically describes a process where energy or resources are lost or become less useful over time.