Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Capable of absorbing a liquid or gas.
  • noun A substance that is capable of absorbing.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Absorbing or capable of absorbing; imbibing; swallowing; performing the function of absorption: as, absorbent vessels; the absorbent system.
  • noun Anything which absorbs.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective Absorbing; swallowing; absorptive.
  • adjective (Paint.) a ground prepared for a picture, chiefly with distemper, or water colors, by which the oil is absorbed, and a brilliancy is imparted to the colors.
  • noun Anything which absorbs.
  • noun (Med.) Any substance which absorbs and neutralizes acid fluid in the stomach and bowels, as magnesia, chalk, etc.; also a substance e. g., iodine) which acts on the absorbent vessels so as to reduce enlarged and indurated parts.
  • noun (Physiol.) The vessels by which the processes of absorption are carried on, as the lymphatics in animals, the extremities of the roots in plants.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun medicine Any substance which absorbs and neutralizes acid fluid in the stomach and bowels, as magnesia, chalk, etc.; also a substance, e.g., iodine, which acts on the absorbent vessels so as to reduce enlarged and indurated parts.
  • noun chemistry A liquid used in the process of separating gases or volatile liquids, in oil refining.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective having power or capacity or tendency to absorb or soak up something (liquids or energy etc.)
  • noun a material having capacity or tendency to absorb another substance

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Latin absorbēns, present active participle of absorbeō ("absorb").

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Examples

  • AGM batteries are sealed and soak up their electrolyte in absorbent material rather than containing it in liquid-filled chambers.

    Consumer Reports' latest car battery test finds some bargain performers 2010

  • Made without plastic, chlorine, latex or perfume, another mantra for new moms, these diaper hybrids consist of cute, colorable and washable outer pants with a snap - in absorbent liner with an inner pad that can be flushed or composted away; they are available online at Amazon, Target and Walmart and various baby sites as well as in baby stores like Babies R Us and eco - friendly retailers such as Whole Foods.

    Angela Haines: The Mom Motivation Angela Haines 2010

  • From the time your child is an infant until he is about 3, he has what Maria Montessori called an absorbent mind.

    Testing for Kindergarten Karen Quinn 2010

  • From the time your child is an infant until he is about 3, he has what Maria Montessori called an absorbent mind.

    Testing for Kindergarten Karen Quinn 2010

  • From the time your child is an infant until he is about 3, he has what Maria Montessori called an absorbent mind.

    Testing for Kindergarten Karen Quinn 2010

  • From the time your child is an infant until he is about 3, he has what Maria Montessori called an absorbent mind.

    Testing for Kindergarten Karen Quinn 2010

  • On a sensory level, though, it sounds like bamboo towels are soft and absorbent, which is just what I want towels to be.

    Bamboo towels | The Blog of Michael R. Eades, M.D. 2007

  • This is what makes the natural fibers more absorbent, which is, as we shall see, a prime factor in their superior comfort under many circumstances.

    HOME COMFORTS CHERYL MENDELSON 2005

  • This is what makes the natural fibers more absorbent, which is, as we shall see, a prime factor in their superior comfort under many circumstances.

    HOME COMFORTS CHERYL MENDELSON 2005

  • This is what makes the natural fibers more absorbent, which is, as we shall see, a prime factor in their superior comfort under many circumstances.

    HOME COMFORTS CHERYL MENDELSON 2005

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