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

The key factor that improves nutrient absorption is pairing it with olive oil, mayonnaise or another oil-based dressing.

From Science Daily

This steady absorption of carbon makes seawater progressively more acidic over time.

From Science Daily

With its simple, scalable synthesis, strong light absorption, stable photophysical characteristics, and long lived excited state, the manganese-based material could support future large scale photochemical applications.

From Science Daily

They relied on operando X-ray absorption, a technique that examines both electronic behavior and local structural changes.

From Science Daily

Local estrogen results in minimal absorption into the bloodstream.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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