absorption

See also: Absorption

English

Etymology

First attested in 1597. From Latin absorptiō (“a sucking in”), from absorbeō (“absorb”). Morphologically absorb +‎ -tion.

Pronunciation
  • (UK) IPA(key): /əbˈzɔːp.ʃn̩/, /əbˈsɔːp.ʃn̩/
  • (US) IPA(key): /æbˈsɔɹp.ʃn̩/, /æbˈzɔɹp.ʃn̩/, /əbˈzɔɹp.ʃn̩/, /əbˈsɔɹp.ʃn̩/
  • Audio (US)(file)
  • Hyphenation: ab‧sorp‧tion

Noun

absorption (countable and uncountable, plural absorptions)

  1. The act or process of absorbing or of being absorbed as,
    1. (obsolete) engulfing; swallowing up, as of bodies or land. [Attested from the late 16th century until the mid 18th century.][1]
    2. assimilation; incorporation. [First attested in the mid 18th century.][1]
      the absorption of a smaller tribe into a larger
      the absorption of bodies in a whirlpool
    3. (chemistry, physics) the imbibing or reception by molecular or chemical action, of radiant energy; the process of being neutrons being absorbed by the nucleus; interception. [First attested in the mid 18th century.][1]
      the absorption of light, heat, electricity, etc.
    4. (meteorology) The process in which incident radiant energy is retained by a substance (such as an air mass) by conversion to some other form of energy (such as heat).
    5. (physiology) in living organisms, the process by which the materials of growth and nutrition are absorbed and conveyed to the tissues and organs; taking in by various means, such as by osmosis. [First attested in the mid 18th century.][1]
  2. Entire engrossment or occupation of the mind. [First attested in the mid 19th century.][1]
    absorption in some employment
  3. Mental assimilation. [First attested in the mid 20th century.][1]
  4. (electrical engineering) The retaining of electrical energy for a short time after it has been introduced to the dielectric.

Derived terms

Translations
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Translations to be checked

References
  1. Lesley Brown, editor-in-chief; William R. Trumble and Angus Stevenson, editors (2002), “absorption”, in The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles, 5th edition, Oxford; New York, N.Y.: Oxford University Press, →ISBN, page 9.
  • absorption in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911
  • absorption in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913

Anagrams

Finnish

Noun

absorption

  1. genitive singular of absorptio

French

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /ap.sɔʁp.sjɔ̃/
  • Audio(file)

Noun

absorption f (plural absorptions)

  1. absorption, swallowing, taking

Further reading

Swedish

Etymology

Derived from Latin absorptiō (“a sucking in”).

Noun

absorption c

  1. absorption

Declension
Declension of absorption 
Uncountable
Indefinite Definite
Nominative absorption absorptionen — —
Genitive absorptions absorptionens — —

Derived terms

See also

References
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