absorption

American  

[ab-sawrp-shuhn, -zawrp-] / æbˈsɔrp ʃən, -ˈzɔrp- /

noun

• absorptions
  plural

1. the act of absorbing.

2. the state or process of being absorbed.

3. assimilation; incorporation.

   the absorption of small farms into one big one.

4. uptake of substances by a tissue, as of nutrients through the wall of the intestine.

5. a taking in or reception by molecular or chemical action, as of gases or liquids.

6. Physics. the removal of energy or particles from a beam by the medium through which the beam propagates.

7. complete attention or preoccupation; deep engrossment.

   absorption in one's work.

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absorption British  

/ əbˈsɔːpʃən, -ˈzɔːp- /

noun

1. the process of absorbing or the state of being absorbed

2. physiol

   1. normal assimilation by the tissues of the products of digestion

   2. the passage of a gas, fluid, drug, etc, through the mucous membranes or skin

3. physics a reduction of the intensity of any form of radiated energy as a result of energy conversion in a medium, such as the conversion of sound energy into heat

4. immunol the process of removing superfluous antibodies or antigens from a mixture using a reagent

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absorption Scientific  

/ əb-sôrp′shən /

1. Biology The movement of a substance, such as a liquid or solute, across a cell membrane by means of diffusion or osmosis.

2. Chemistry The process by which one substance, such as a solid or liquid, takes up another substance, such as a liquid or gas, through minute pores or spaces between its molecules. A paper towel takes up water, and water takes up carbon dioxide, by absorption.

3. Chemistry Compare adsorption

4. Physics The taking up and storing of energy, such as radiation, light, or sound, without it being reflected or transmitted. During absorption, the energy may change from one form into another. When radiation strikes the electrons in an atom, the electrons move to a higher orbit or state of excitement by absorption of the radiation's energy.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• hyperabsorption
  noun
• interabsorption
  noun
• nonabsorption
  noun
• overabsorption
  noun
• absorptive
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• absorptions
  plural

Etymology

Origin of absorption

1590–1600; < Latin absorptiōn- (stem of absorptiō ), equivalent to absorpt ( us ), past participle of absorbēre to absorb + -iōn- -ion

Explanation

Absorption describes the process of absorbing or soaking up something: Sponges are good at water absorption; dark colors are better for heat absorption. Because the words absorption and absorb are so closely related, there's a tendency for people to try to spell absorption with a second B instead of a P, but don't fall for it. Remembering the correct spelling is going to take total absorption in studying — meaning you'll have to be totally focused and occupied with learning it.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

absorption absorptions

Pernicious anemia is different: the problem is not bleeding, but poor absorption of vitamin B12.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 25, 2026

The trade-off for the shock absorption is that in a deep, sustained downturn, your portfolio will be exposed to more drawdown than a stricter rule would allow.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 23, 2026

As on Wall Street, the media’s absorption with Greenspan during his years as Fed chair generated stories and legends.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 22, 2026

You can also add granola with oats and nuts that contribute healthy fats that slow glucose absorption.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 21, 2026

Fiver, as he listened, had shown a mixture of intense absorption and incredulous horror.

From "Watership Down: A Novel" by Richard Adams

Organic growth was 10%, of which 4% was same clinic growth and 6% from clinic absorptions.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 24, 2026

A record of fascinations is at risk of careening into self-indulgence, but “Affinities” is also a record of absorptions, both Dillon’s and those of the artists he loves.

From Washington Post ● Apr. 20, 2023

These epithelia are active in the secretion and absorptions of molecules.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 19, 2013

Richard Prince, Sherrie Levine and other “re-photographers” delighted and outraged viewers with their canny absorptions of other artists’ work.

From New York Times ● Oct. 7, 2010

II. and of the perpetual absorptions and evolutions of whole oceans of air from every part of the earth.

From The Botanic Garden A Poem in Two Parts. Part 1: the Economy of Vegetation by Erasmus Darwin

Related Words

• consumption
• digestion
• intake
• penetration
• retention
• saturation