absorb

absorb
verb (T)
1 LIQUID if something absorbs a liquid, it takes the liquid into itself from the surface or space around it: Plants absorb nutrients from the soil.
2 INFORMATION to read or hear a large amount of new information and understand it: I haven't really had time to absorb everything that he said.
3 INTEREST to interest someone very much: be absorbed in: Judith lay on the settee, absorbed in her book. | absorb sb's attention: The video was totally absorbing the children's attention.
4 BECOME PART OF to make a smaller country, company, or group of people become part of your country, company, or group: The US was able to absorb thousands of new immigrants. | be absorbed into: More and more newspapers are being absorbed into the Murdoch empire.
5 MONEY/TIME ETC if something absorbs money, time etc it uses a lot of it: Defence spending absorbs almost 20% of the country's wealth.
6 FORCE to reduce the effect of a sudden violent movement: The solid walls absorbed much of the impact of the explosion.
7 LIGHT/HEAT/ENERGY if a substance or object absorbs light, heat, or energy, it keeps it and does not reflect it (=send it back): Black objects absorb heat more.

Longman dictionary of contemporary English. 2004.

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  • 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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