1. A moving or spreading apart or in different directions. 2. The spreading of branches of the neuron to form synapses with several other neurons. [L. di-, apart, + vergo, to incline]
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1 a) a drawing apart
b) the acquisition of dissimilar characters by related organisms under the influence of unlike environments
2) dissemination of the effect of activity of a single nerve cell through multiple synaptic connections compare CONVERGENCE (4)
di·verge -'vərj vb, di·verged; di·verg·ing
di·ver·gent -'vər-jənt adj
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n.
(in ophthalmology) abduction of the eyes. Divergence excess is a type of squint (divergent strabismus) in which the eyes are deviated outwards more when looking in the distance than for near vision. Divergence insufficiency is a type of squint (convergent strabismus) in which the eyes are deviated slightly inwards only when looking in the distance.
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di·ver·gence (di-vurґjəns) a spreading or tending apart; in ophthalmology, the simultaneous abduction of both eyes.Medical dictionary. 2011.