absorbent

[ab-sawr-buh nt, -zawr-]

adjective

capable of absorbing heat, light, moisture, etc.; tending to absorb.

noun

something that absorbs: Tons of high-powered absorbents were needed to clean up the oil spill.

Origin of absorbent

First recorded in 1710–20, absorbent is from the Latin word absorbent- (stem of absorbēns, present participle of absorbēre). See absorb, -ent

Related formsab·sorb·en·cy, nounnon·ab·sorb·en·cy, nounnon·ab·sorb·ent, adjective, nounpre·ab·sorb·ent, adjective, nounsem·i·ab·sorb·ent, adjectiveun·ab·sorb·ent, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for absorbency

Contemporary Examples of absorbency

Shemilt ensures the breathability and absorbency of the 95 percent bamboo fabric tops.
Huma Abedin Opens Up To Harper’s Bazaar; Rumors of a Barney's New York - Jay Z Collaboration
The Fashion Beast Team
July 24, 2013

Historical Examples of absorbency

But the amount of absorbency required is not so great as to preclude the use of size altogether.
Wood-Block Printing
F. Morley Fletcher

British Dictionary definitions for absorbency

absorbent

adjective

able to absorb

noun

a substance that absorbs

Derived Formsabsorbency, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for absorbency

1762, noun of state from absorbent; see -cy.

absorbent

1718, adjective and noun, from Latin absorbentem (nominative absorbens), present participle of absorbere (see absorb).

absorbency in Medicine

absorbent

[əb-zôr′bənt]

adj.

Capable of absorption; able to absorb.

Related formsab•sorb′ent n.