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.

Nearby words

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 forms

ab·sorb·en·cy, nounnon·ab·sorb·en·cy, nounnon·ab·sorb·ent, adjective, nounpre·ab·sorb·ent, adjective, noun

sem·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

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|DAILY BEAST
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

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).

Medicine definitions for absorbency

absorbent

[əb-zôr′bənt]

adj.

Capable of absorption; able to absorb.

Related formsab•sorb′ent n.