Final answer:
The antonym for 'diffuse' as a verb is 'concentrate' because 'diffuse' means to spread out, while 'concentrate' means to come together in a central point. 'Disperse' is a synonym of 'diffuse', not an antonym. 'Verbose' and 'succinct' do not directly address the spreading or gathering concept. Option a is the correct answer.
Step-by-step explanation:
The word diffuse, when used as a verb, means to spread out or scatter. Given a list of potential antonyms, the goal is to find a word that represents the opposite of spreading out. The options provided are concentrate, disperse, verbose, and succinct. Among these, 'concentrate' is the correct antonym for 'diffuse' as it means to bring or come together in a common center or to focus. Therefore, if something is concentrated, it is gathered into a smaller area rather than being spread out.
For instance, in a classroom, a teacher may instruct students to concentrate the discussion on the main topic rather than allowing the conversation to diffuse into unrelated areas. On the other hand, 'disperse' is a synonym of 'diffuse,' as it also means to spread widely. 'Verbose' describes a style that uses more words than necessary, and 'succinct' pertains to expressing something in a brief and clear manner, but neither directly addresses the idea of spreading out or gathering together, making 'concentrate' the most suitable antonym.