imbibition

American  

[im-buh-bish-uhn] / ˌɪm bəˈbɪʃ ən /

noun

1. act of imbibing.

2. Physical Chemistry. the absorption of solvent by a gel.

3. Photography. (in color printing) absorption of dye by gelatin, as in the dye-transfer process.

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imbibition British  

/ ˌɪmbɪˈbɪʃən /

noun

1. chem the absorption or adsorption of a liquid by a gel or solid

2. photog the absorption of dyes by gelatine, used in some colour printing processes

3. obsolete the act of imbibing

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Other Word Forms

• imbibitional adjective

Etymology

Origin of imbibition

late Middle English word dating back to 1425–75; see origin at imbibe, -ition

Example Sentences

If, now, we presuppose absorption or even imbibition on the part of the skin, a swelling of the nerve-ends is comprehensible, as the imbibed fluid reaches them.

From The Electric Bath by Schweig, George M.

But the most remarkable and interesting case of this kind of action is the imbibition of oxygen by metallic platinum.

From Familiar Letters on Chemistry by Liebig, Justus, Freiherr von

The scent of Thelephora fastidiosa is bad enough, but, like that of Coprinus picaceus, it is probably derived from the imbibition of the ordure on which it is developed.

From Fungi: Their Nature and Uses by Cooke, M. C. (Mordecai Cubitt)

The glands secrete a yellowish viscid fluid, by *The distinction between true absorption and mere permeation, or imbibition, is by no means clearly understood: see Mller's 'Physiology,' Eng. translat.

From Insectivorous Plants by Darwin, Charles

The amoeba either takes its food directly by imbibition of matter floating in the water, or by pressing into its protoplasmic body solid particles with which it comes in contact.

From The Evolution of Man — Volume 1 by Haeckel, Ernst Heinrich Philipp August

Related Words

• concentration