Jump to word: 

Phrases starting with the letter: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Previous word: absonant
Next word: absorbed

Definition of: absorb

(ab·sôrb, -zôrb) v.t.
1. To drink in or suck up, as through or into pores: A sponge absorbs water.
2. To engross completely; occupy wholly: Study absorbs me.
3. Physics, Chem. To take up or in by chemical or molecular action, as gases, heat, liquid, light, etc.: distinguished from adsorb.
4. To assimilate, as in the processes of nutrition and growth.
5. To take in and incorporate so as to swallow up identity or individuality: The city absorbs the suburbs.
6. To receive the force or action of; intercept: A spring absorbs a jar or jolt.
7. To take up entirely by purchase or use, as an issue of bonds or the output of a factory. [<L absorbere <ab- from + sorbere suck in]
—ab·sorba·bil′i·ty
noun
—ab·sorb′a·ble
adjective
—ab·sorb′ing
adjective
—ab·sorb′ing·ly
adverb
Synonyms: consume, engross, exhaust, imbibe, swallow. A fluid that is absorbed is taken up into the mass of the absorbing body, with which it may or may not permanently combine. A substance is consumed which is appropriated by some other substance, being, or agency, so that it ceases to exist or to be recognized as existing in its original condition; fuel is consumed in the fire, food in the body; consume also means to buy and use up, as an individual or the public consumes coal. A great talker engrosses the listeners. A credulous person swallows the most preposterous statement. A busy student is absorbed in a subject that takes his whole attention. Antonyms: disgorge, disperse, dissipate, distract, eject, emit, exude, radiate.

Most often used phrases:

absorb water
absorb energy
absorb light
absorb heat
also absorb
absorb nutrients
absorb moisture
absorb oxygen
absorb carbon
absorb neutrons
absorb large
absorb shock
absorb excess
absorb iodine
absorb impact

'absorb' used in domains:

absorbade.com
superabsorbentproducts.com
absorbwhatisuseful.com
automotiveshockabsorber.com
allamericanabsorbents.com
abcabsorbent.com

Statistical data

"absorb" has the frequency of use of 0.0007% on city-data.com forum

"absorb" has the frequency of use of 0.0005% on en.wikipedia.org.

Phrases starting with the letter: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

User Contributions:

Comment about this word, ask questions, or add new information about this topic: