osmosis

[ oz-moh-sis, os- ]

See synonyms for osmosis on Thesaurus.com

noun

Physical Chemistry, Cell Biology.
- the tendency of a fluid, usually water, to pass through a semipermeable membrane into a solution where the solvent concentration is higher, thus equalizing the concentrations of materials on either side of the membrane.
- the diffusion of fluids through membranes or porous partitions.: Compare endosmosis, exosmosis.
a subtle or gradual absorption or mingling: He never studies but seems to learn by osmosis.

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Origin of osmosis

First recorded in 1865–70; Latinized form of obsolete osmose, extracted from endosmose endosmosis, exosmose exosmosis, from French, equivalent to end- end-, ex- ex-² + Greek ōsm(ós) “a push, thrust” + French -ose -osis

Other words from osmosis

os·mot·ic [oz-mot-ik, os-], /ɒzˈmɒt ɪk, ɒs-/, adjective
os·mot·i·cal·ly, adverb
non·os·mot·ic, adjective
non·os·mot·i·cal·ly, adverb
un·os·mot·ic, adjective

Words Nearby osmosis

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use osmosis in a sentence

The relationships he builds with his teammates, the respect he garners, the joy he has in playing, it’s like osmosis.
This Was No Team USA Men's Basketball Dream Team. But In Tokyo, It Demands Our Respect | Sean Gregory/Tokyo | August 7, 2021 | Time
This plant harnessed osmosis to generate a humble 2 to 4 kilowatts, enough to power a couple of kitchen appliances.
Estuaries could power us to a low-carbon future | Claire Maldarelli | June 23, 2021 | Popular-Science
Osmotic power takes advantage of osmosis, the movement of water through a semipermeable membrane.
Estuaries could power us to a low-carbon future | Claire Maldarelli | June 23, 2021 | Popular-Science
Rittri now heads up Bluewater, a water purification products company that uses patented osmosis technology to enable local purification of water with the goal of eliminating the need for plastic and long-distance transport.
Best air purifier: Fight allergens, smoke, and germs for cleaner indoor air | PopSci Commerce Team | December 17, 2020 | Popular-Science
According to Hestekin, the nephron could be combined with ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, or reverse osmosis systems and integrated into an artificial kidney.
Artificial Kidneys Are a Step Closer With This New Tech | Vanessa Bates Ramirez | June 3, 2020 | Singularity Hub

A reverse osmosis plant on an adjacent plot of land desalinates and purifies up to 1.25 million gallons of water daily.
Sun+Water= High Tech Caribbean Luxury At The Cusinart Resort | The Daily Beast | June 11, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
And through basic cultural osmosis you learned its broad outlines: woman, travel, freeing of spirit, yoga.
A Man's Guide to Eat Pray Love | Bryan Curtis | August 12, 2010 | THE DAILY BEAST
Any winery that possesses a reverse-osmosis machine—usually used to remove alcohol from wine—can create their own concentrates.
The Great Wine Cover-up | Keith Wallace | August 18, 2009 | THE DAILY BEAST
In simple animals, as the sponge and hydra, no such organs are needed, the fluid food passing from cell to cell by osmosis.
A Civic Biology | George William Hunter
No breathing organs are seen, because osmosis of oxygen and carbon dioxide may take place anywhere through the cell membrane.
A Civic Biology | George William Hunter
The cell absorbs oxygen from the water by osmosis through its delicate membrane, giving up carbon dioxide in return.
A Civic Biology | George William Hunter
Nourishment passes through them by a simple process of osmosis.
Embryology | Gerald R. Leighton
Non-osmosis of non-digested foods, comparison between osmosable qualities of starch and grape sugar.
A Civic Biology | George William Hunter

British Dictionary definitions for osmosis

osmosis

/ (ɒzˈməʊsɪs, ɒs-) /

noun

the passage of a solvent through a semipermeable membrane from a less concentrated to a more concentrated solution until both solutions are of the same concentration
diffusion through any membrane or porous barrier, as in dialysis

gradual or unconscious assimilation or adoption, as of ideas

Origin of osmosis

C19: Latinized form from osmose (n), from Greek ōsmos push, thrust

Derived forms of osmosis

osmotic (ɒzˈmɒtɪk, ɒs-), adjective
osmotically, adverb

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

Scientific definitions for osmosis

osmosis

[ ŏz-mō′sĭs ]

The movement of a solvent through a membrane separating two solutions of different concentrations. The solvent from the side of weaker concentration usually moves to the side of the stronger concentration, diluting it, until the concentrations of the solutions are equal on both sides of the membrane.♦ The pressure exerted by the molecules of the solvent on the membrane they pass through is called osmotic pressure. Osmotic pressure is the energy driving osmosis and is important for living organisms because it allows water and nutrients dissolved in water to pass through cell membranes.

Cultural definitions for osmosis

osmosis

[ (ahz-moh-sis, ahs-moh-sis) ]

The seeping of a fluid through a seemingly solid barrier, such as a cell wall or a rubber sheet. When the concentration of the fluid is the same on both sides of the barrier, osmosis stops.

Notes for osmosis

Informally, “osmosis” is the process by which information or concepts come to a person without conscious effort: “Living in Paris, he learned French slang by osmosis.”

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