absorb

absorb
ab|sorb
W3 [əbˈso:b, əbˈzo:b US -o:rb] v [T]
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
1¦(liquid/gas)¦
2¦(information)¦
3¦(interest)¦
4¦(become part of something)¦
5¦(light/heat/energy/noise)¦
6¦(deal with change/costs)¦
7¦(money/time)¦
8¦(force)¦
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
[Date: 1400-1500; : French; Origin: absorber, from Latin absorbere, from ab- 'away' + sorbere 'to suck up']
1.) ¦(LIQUID/GAS)¦
to take in liquid, gas, or another substance from the surface or space around something
▪ Plants absorb nutrients from the soil.
absorb sth into sth
▪ Water and salts are absorbed into our blood stream.
2.) ¦(INFORMATION)¦
to read or hear a large amount of new information and understand it
▪ Her capacity to absorb information is amazing.
3.) ¦(INTEREST)¦
to interest someone so much that they do not pay attention to other things
▪ The movement and noise of the machines absorbed him completely.
be absorbed in sth
▪ Judith lay on the settee, absorbed in her book.
4.) ¦(BECOME PART OF SOMETHING)¦
to become part of something larger
▪ California absorbs many of the legal immigrants to the US.
be absorbed into sth
▪ We were soon absorbed into local village life.
5.) ¦(LIGHT/HEAT/ENERGY/NOISE)¦
if something absorbs light, heat, energy, or noise, it takes it in
▪ Darker surfaces absorb heat.
6.) ¦(DEAL WITH CHANGE/COSTS)¦
if something absorbs changes or costs, it accepts them and deals with them successfully
▪ The beer industry had absorbed a doubling of federal tax in 1991.
7.) ¦(MONEY/TIME)¦
if something absorbs money, time etc it uses a lot of it
▪ Defence spending absorbs almost 20% of the country's wealth.
8.) ¦(FORCE)¦
to reduce the effect of a sudden violent movement
▪ A well-designed sports shoe should absorb the impact on your feet.

Dictionary of contemporary English. 2013.

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Synonyms:
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Look at other dictionaries:

  • absorb — 1 Absorb, imbibe, assimilate can all mean to take (something) in so as to become imbued with it or to make it a part of one’s being. The original meaning of absorb, to swallow up (both literally and figuratively), has been retained in spite of… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • absorb — ab‧sorb [əbˈsɔːb, əbˈzɔːb ǁ ɔːrb] verb [transitive] COMMERCE 1. if a large organization absorbs a smaller one, it takes control of it and makes it part of the organization: • The company was absorbed by IBM in 1995. absorb into • Several smaller… …   Financial and business terms

  • Absorb — Ab*sorb , v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Absorbed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Absorbing}.] [L. absorbere; ab + sorbere to suck in, akin to Gr. ?: cf. F. absorber.] 1. To swallow up; to engulf; to overwhelm; to cause to disappear as if by swallowing up; to use up;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • absorb — ab·sorb vt 1: to make (a right guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution) applicable to the states 2 a: to bear or assume the burden of expenses were absorb ed by the company b: to lessen the tax liability for has other losses to absorb the income D. Q …   Law dictionary

  • absorb — [v1] physically take in a liquid blot, consume, devour, drink in, imbibe, ingest, ingurgitate, osmose, soak up, sop up*, sponge up*, suck in*, swallow, take in; concept 256 Ant. disperse, dissipate, eject, emit, exude, spew, vomit absorb [v2]… …   New thesaurus

  • absorb — (v.) early 15c., from M.Fr. absorber (O.Fr. assorbir, 13c.), from L. absorbere to swallow up, from ab from (see AB (Cf. ab )) + sorbere suck in, from PIE root *srebh to suck, absorb (Cf. Armenian arbi I drank, Gk …   Etymology dictionary

  • absorb — ► VERB 1) soak up (liquid or another substance). 2) take in (information). 3) assimilate or take over (something less powerful). 4) use up (time or resources). 5) reduce the effect or intensity of (sound or an impact). 6) (usu. as absorbed or …   English terms dictionary

  • absorb — [ab sôrb′, abzôrb′; əbsôrb′] vt. [L absorbere < ab , from + sorbere, to suck in: see SLURP] 1. to suck up [blotting paper absorbs ink] 2. to take up the full attention or energy of; engross 3. to take in and incorporate; assimilate 4. to… …   English World dictionary

  • absorb */*/ — UK [əbˈzɔː(r)b] / US [əbˈsɔrb] / US [əbˈzɔrb] verb [transitive] Word forms absorb : present tense I/you/we/they absorb he/she/it absorbs present participle absorbing past tense absorbed past participle absorbed 1) a) to take in a gas, liquid, or… …   English dictionary

  • absorb — 01. Children are like little sponges that seem to be able to [absorb] languages very quickly. 02. The course I took was very intensive, and I had a lot of information to [absorb] in a short time. 03. These diapers are very [absorbent], so your… …   Grammatical examples in English

  • absorb — [[t]əbzɔ͟ː(r)b[/t]] absorbs, absorbing, absorbed 1) VERB If something absorbs a liquid, gas, or other substance, it soaks it up or takes it in. [V n] Plants absorb carbon dioxide from the air and moisture from the soil... [be V ed into n] Refined …   English dictionary

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