desorb

American

[dee-sawrb, -zawrb] / diˈsɔrb, -ˈzɔrb /

verb (used with object)

Physical Chemistry.

to remove an absorbate or adsorbate from (an absorbent or adsorbent).

desorb British

/ -ˈzɔːb, dɪˈsɔːb /

verb

chem to change from an adsorbed state on a surface to a gaseous or liquid state

"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

Other Word Forms

desorption noun

Etymology

Origin of desorb

1920–25; de- + -sorb, modeled on absorb

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

First they used classical computers to model how molecules adsorb and desorb from catalyst particles; then they applied their quantum computer to identify the most likely reaction pathway of the electrons and protons involved.

From Science Magazine

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023