sorb

[ sawrb ]

/ sɔrb /

noun

a European tree, Sorbus domestica.

Also called sorb apple. the fruit of this tree.

QUIZZES

Discover The Influence Of Portuguese On English Via This Quiz!

We’ve gathered some interesting words donated to English from Portuguese … as well as some that just don’t translate at all. Do you know what they mean?

Question 1 of 11

Which of the following animal names traces its immediate origin to Portuguese?

owl

crow

piranha

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Words nearby sorb

sopwith, sora, soralium, soranus, sorata, sorb, sorbate, sorbefacient, sorbent, sorbet, sorbian

Origin of sorb

1520–30; < Latin sorbum serviceberry and sorbus service tree

OTHER WORDS FROM sorb

sorb·ic, adjective

Definition for sorb (2 of 3)

sorb²

[ sawrb ]

/ sɔrb /

verb (used with object) Chemistry.

to gather on a surface either by absorption, adsorption, or a combination of the two processes.

Origin of sorb

1905–10; extracted from absorb and adsorb

OTHER WORDS FROM sorb

sorb·a·ble, adjectivesorb·a·bil·i·ty, noun

Definition for sorb (3 of 3)

Sorb

[ sawrb ]

/ sɔrb /

noun

a Wend.

Origin of Sorb

1835–45; < German Sorbe ≪ Lusatian serbje, serbjo

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for sorb

Spadevil pressed his hand on her sorb and kept it there for a few minutes, while he closed his own eyes.
A Voyage to Arcturus|David Lindsay
When he removed it, Maskull observed that the sorb was transformed into twin membranes like Spadevil's own.
A Voyage to Arcturus|David Lindsay
Maskull lingered no longer, but permitted Spadevil to cover his sorb.
A Voyage to Arcturus|David Lindsay
He possessed neither a sorb nor a third arm—so presumably he was not a native of Ifdawn.
A Voyage to Arcturus|David Lindsay

On his forehead there were two flat membranes, like rudimentary eyes, but no sorb.
A Voyage to Arcturus|David Lindsay

British Dictionary definitions for sorb (1 of 2)

sorb

/ (sɔːb) /

noun

another name for service tree (def. 1)

any of various related trees, esp the mountain ash

Also called: sorb apple the fruit of any of these trees

Derived forms of sorb

sorbic, adjective

Word Origin for sorb

C16: from Latin sorbus the sorb, service tree

British Dictionary definitions for sorb (2 of 2)

Sorb

/ (sɔːb) /

noun

a member of a Slavonic people living chiefly in the rural areas of E Germany between the upper reaches of the Oder and Elbe rivers (Lusatia)Also called: Wend, Lusatian

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