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Absorb

//əbˈzɔːb// verb

Definitions

Verb

1
To include so that it no longer has separate existence; to overwhelm; to cause to disappear as if by swallowing up; to incorporate; to assimilate; to take in and use up. transitive
"Dark oblivion soon absorbs them all."
2
cause to become one with wordnet
3
To engulf, as in water; to swallow up. obsolete, transitive
"to be absorpt, or swallowed up, in a lake of fire and brimstone."
4
consume all of one's attention or time wordnet
5
To suck up; to drink in; to imbibe, like a sponge or as the lacteals of the body; to chemically take in. transitive

Show 18 more definitions

6
devote (oneself) fully to wordnet
7
To be absorbed, or sucked in; to sink in. intransitive
"The drops of water slowly absorbed into the dry sponge."
8
take up mentally wordnet
9
To take in energy and convert it. transitive
"Heat, light, and electricity are absorbed in the substances into which they pass."
10
assimilate or take in wordnet
11
To take in energy and convert it.; in receiving a physical impact or vibration without recoil. transitive
12
take in, also metaphorically wordnet
13
To take in energy and convert it.; in receiving sound energy without repercussion or echo. transitive
14
become imbued wordnet
15
To take in energy and convert it.; taking in radiant energy and converting it to a different form of energy, like heat. transitive
16
take up, as of debts or payments wordnet
17
To engross or engage wholly; to occupy fully. transitive
"Geeka was cooking dinner. As the little girl played she prattled continuously to her companion, propped in a sitting position with a couple of twigs. She was totally absorbed in the domestic duties of Geeka – so much so that she did not note the gentle swaying of the branches of the tree above her as they bent to the body of the creature that had entered them stealthily from the jungle."
18
suck or take up or in wordnet
19
To occupy or consume time. transitive
20
To assimilate mentally. transitive
"If we fail to absorb the lessons of history, we are doomed to repeat them."
21
To assume or pay for as part of a commercial transaction. transitive
"Among the most debatable is the contention that the profit margins of small employers are insufficient to absorb the costs of health insurance"
22
To defray the costs. transitive
"I’ll absorb the charge for the window replacement."
23
To accept or purchase in quantity. transitive

Etymology

From Middle French absorber, from Old French assorbir, from Latin absorbeō (“swallow up”), from ab- (“from”) + sorbeō (“suck in, swallow”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *srebʰ- (“to sip”). Compare French absorber.

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