absorption

American  

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

noun

1. the act of absorbing.

2. the state or process of being absorbed. 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

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

Etymology

Origin of absorption

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

Example Sentences

By studying the shape of those dips, they were able to determine properties such as absorption and thermal effects.

From Science Daily

Damascus "understands integration as absorption, yet Kurds see it as joining the new state with their own identity and priorities", Civiroglu said.

From Barron's

"However, a gyroscopic system can be controlled in a way that maintains high energy absorption, even as wave frequencies vary."

From Science Daily

In fact, elephant whiskers are almost blade-like, with a porous architecture similar to sheep horns, which helps with shock absorption while eating.

From Barron's

The paper also presents the most recent spectroscopic analysis, reporting evidence for distinctive helium absorption features in the spectrum of JADES-GS-13-0.

From Science Daily

Related Words

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