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

My current home is also stocked with multistage, HEPA-filter air purifiers that combine carbon absorption and ionizer technology all around the house, which came in handy during Covid.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026

Chow thinks Tenaga absorption of 120 million ringgit-150 million ringgit in fuel-adjustment charges to be a one-off cost, though the precedent could weigh on sentiment.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026

Citi says margins could realistically be negative given fixed-cost absorption, high raw-material headwinds and worse-than-consensus volumes.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 22, 2026

Each formulation was tested for several important properties, including compressive strength, split tensile strength, water absorption, and impact resistance.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 22, 2026

But the absolute absorption of his face, and his never-ending stream of questions, compelled me to continue.

From "Twilight" by Stephenie Meyer

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

Whence great heat from the excited capillaries of the skin, large and quick pulsations of the heart, full and hard arteries, with great universal secretions and absorptions.

From Zoonomia, Vol. II Or, the Laws of Organic Life by Erasmus Darwin

Related Words

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