adsorb

[ ad-sawrb, -zawrb ]

verb (used with object)Physical Chemistry.
  1. to gather (a gas, liquid, or dissolved substance) on a surface in a condensed layer: Charcoal will adsorb gases.

Origin of adsorb

1
First recorded in 1880–85; ad- + (ab)sorb

Other words from adsorb

  • ad·sorb·a·ble, adjective
  • ad·sorb·a·bil·i·ty, noun
  • ad·sorb·ent, adjective, noun
  • ad·sorp·tion [ad-sawrp-shuhn, -zawrp-], /ædˈsɔrp ʃən, -ˈzɔrp-/, noun
  • ad·sorp·tive, adjective
  • ad·sorp·tive·ly, adverb

Words that may be confused with adsorb

Words Nearby adsorb

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How to use adsorb in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for adsorb

adsorb

/ (ədˈsɔːb, -ˈzɔːb) /


verb
  1. to undergo or cause to undergo a process in which a substance, usually a gas, accumulates on the surface of a solid forming a thin film, often only one molecule thick: to adsorb hydrogen on nickel; oxygen adsorbs on tungsten Compare absorb (def. 8)

Origin of adsorb

1
C19: ad- + -sorb as in absorb

Derived forms of adsorb

  • adsorbable, adjective
  • adsorbability, noun
  • adsorption, noun

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