imbibe
- to consume (liquids) by drinking; drink: He imbibed great quantities of iced tea.
- to absorb or soak up, as water, light, or heat: Plants imbibe moisture from the soil.
- to take or receive into the mind, as knowledge, ideas, or the like: to imbibe a sermon; to imbibe beautiful scenery.
- to drink, especially alcoholic beverages: Just a soft drink for me—I don't imbibe.
- to absorb liquid or moisture.
- Archaic. to soak or saturate; imbue.
Origin of imbibe
Synonyms for imbibe
Synonym study
Examples from the Web for imbiber
Historical Examples of imbiber
Cider is said to render the imbiber gout-proof and rheumatism-proof, but requires a long apprenticeship to render it palatable.
In the Heart of VosgesMatilda Betham-Edwards
At first the imbiber shakes as with the ague; and presently he begins to rave as if in delirium.
In Search of a Siberian KlondikeHomer B. Hulbert
And the Imbiber, who was with difficulty keeping his lips in proper form, was glad enough to accept the invitation.
Coffee and ReparteeJohn Kendrick Bangs
He had overheard the Idiot's confidences, as revealed to the genial Imbiber, regarding the sources of some of his ideas.
Coffee and ReparteeJohn Kendrick Bangs
imbibe
- to drink (esp alcoholic drinks)
- literary to take in or assimilate (ideas, facts, etc)to imbibe the spirit of the Renaissance
- (tr) to take in as if by drinkingto imbibe fresh air
- to absorb or cause to absorb liquid or moisture; assimilate or saturate
Word Origin for imbibe
Word Origin and History for imbiber
imbibe
late 14c., from Old French imbiber, embiber "to soak into," from Latin imbibere "absorb, drink in, inhale," from assimilated form of in- "into, in, on, upon" (see in- (2)) + bibere "to drink," related to potare "to drink," from PIE *po(i)- "to drink" (see potion). Figurative sense of "mentally drink in" (knowledge, ideas, etc.) was the main one in classical Latin, first attested in English 1550s. Related: Imbibed; imbibing.