absorb (əbˈsɔːb
;-ˈzɔːb)
Definitions
verb (tr)
- to soak or suck up (liquids)
- to engage or occupy (the interest, attention, or time) of (someone); engross
- to receive or take in (the energy of an impact)
- physics to take in (all or part of incident radiated energy) and retain the part that is not reflected or transmitted
- to take in or assimilate; incorporate
- to accept and find a market for (goods, etc)
- to pay for as part of a commercial transaction ⇒
the distributor absorbed the cost of transport
- chemistry to cause to undergo a process in which one substance, usually a liquid or gas, permeates into or is dissolved by a liquid or solid ⇒
porous solids absorb water
hydrochloric acid absorbs carbon dioxide
Compare adsorb
Alternative Forms
abˌsorbaˈbility noun abˈsorbable adjective Word Origin
C15: via Old French from Latin absorbēre to suck, swallow, from ab-C15: via Old French from Latin to suck, swallow, from 1 + to suck + sorbēre to suck
Synonyms
View thesaurus entry
=
cushion,
suppress,
soften,
pillow,
bolster,
stifle,
dampen,
muffle,
buttress,
deaden,
=
consume,
use,
use up,
spend,
waste,
employ,
drain,
exhaust,
squander,
utilize,
expend,
eat up,
fritter away,
=
engross,
hold,
involve,
fill,
arrest,
fix,
occupy,
engage,
fascinate,
preoccupy,
engulf,
fill up,
immerse,
rivet,
captivate,
monopolize,
enwrap,
