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• sorb
  sorb

  noun

  a European tree, Sorbus domestica.
• Sorb
  Sorb

  noun

  a Wend.

sorb

¹ American  

[sawrb] / sɔrb /

noun

1. a European tree, Sorbus domestica.

2. Also called sorb apple.  the fruit of this tree.

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sorb ² American  

[sawrb] / sɔrb /

verb (used with object)

Chemistry.

1. to gather on a surface either by absorption, adsorption, or a combination of the two processes.

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Sorb ³ American  

[sawrb] / sɔrb /

noun

1. a Wend.

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sorb ¹ British  

/ sɔːb /

noun

1. another name for service tree

2. any of various related trees, esp the mountain ash

3. Also called: sorb apple.  the fruit of any of these trees

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Sorb ² British  

/ sɔːb /

noun

1. Also called: Wend.   Lusatian.  a member of a Slavonic people living chiefly in the rural areas of E Germany between the upper reaches of the Oder and Elbe rivers (Lusatia)

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• sorbable
  adjective
• sorbability
  noun
• sorbic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of sorb¹

1520–30; < Latin sorbum serviceberry and sorbus service tree

Origin of sorb²

1905–10; extracted from absorb and adsorb

Origin of Sorb³

1835–45; < German Sorbe ≪ Lusatian serbje, serbjo

Example Sentences

Sor′bian, pertaining to the Sorbs or their language.—n. a Sorb, or the Sorbian tongue.—adj. and n.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 4 of 4: S-Z and supplements) by Various

The Servian chroniclers connect its origin with their own nationality, basing this view upon the identification of Sarab with Sorb or Serbia.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 3, Part 1, Slice 3 "Banks" to "Bassoon" by Various