Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web
Related Searches
Synonyms
Nearby Words

absorbing

 - 7 dictionary results
Absorbent
Find Absorbent. Shop at Target Online or In-Store.
www.Target.com

ab⋅sorb⋅ing

  [ab-sawr-bing, -zawr-]
Use absorbing in a Sentence
–adjective
extremely interesting; deeply engrossing: an absorbing drama.
Origin:
1745–55; absorb + -ing 2

Related forms:
ab⋅sorb⋅ing⋅ly, adverb
Absorbent
Find Absorbent. Shop at Target Online or In-Store.
www.Target.com

ab⋅sorb

  [ab-sawrb, -zawrb]
–verb (used with object)
1. to suck up or drink in (a liquid); soak up: A sponge absorbs water.
2. to swallow up the identity or individuality of; incorporate: The empire absorbed many small nations.
3. to involve the full attention of; to engross or engage wholly: so absorbed in a book that he did not hear the bell.
4. to occupy or fill: This job absorbs all of my time.
5. to take up or receive by chemical or molecular action: Carbonic acid is formed when water absorbs carbon dioxide.
6. to take in without echo, recoil, or reflection: to absorb sound and light; to absorb shock.
7. to take in and utilize: The market absorbed all the computers we could build. Can your brain absorb all this information?
8. to pay for (costs, taxes, etc.): The company will absorb all the research costs.
9. Archaic. to swallow up.
Origin:
1480–90; < L absorbēre, equiv. to ab- ab- + sorbēre to suck in, swallow

Related forms:
ab⋅sorb⋅a⋅ble, adjective
ab⋅sorb⋅a⋅bil⋅i⋅ty, noun

Synonyms:
2. assimilate, consume, devour, engulf; destroy.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To absorbing
ab·sorb   (əb-sôrb', -zôrb')   
tr.v.   ab·sorbed, ab·sorb·ing, ab·sorbs

  1. To take (something) in through or as through pores or interstices.

  2. To occupy the full attention, interest, or time of; engross. See Synonyms at monopolize.

  3. To retain (radiation or sound, for example) wholly, without reflection or transmission.

  4. To take in; assimilate: immigrants who were absorbed into the social mainstream.

  5. To learn; acquire: "Matisse absorbed the lesson and added to it a new language of color" (Peter Plagen).

  6. To receive (an impulse) without echo or recoil: a fabric that absorbs sound; a bumper that absorbs impact.

  7. To assume or pay for (a cost or costs).

  8. To endure; accommodate: couldn't absorb the additional hardships.

  9. To use up; consume: The project has absorbed all of our department's resources.


[Middle English, to swallow up, from Old French absorber, from Latin absorbēre : ab-, away; see ab-1 + sorbēre, to suck.]
ab·sorb'a·bil'i·ty n., ab·sorb'a·ble adj., ab·sorb'ed·ly adv., ab·sorb'er n., ab·sorb'ing·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Financial Dictionary

absorb

To offset sell orders or a new security offering with buy orders.

Wall Street Words: An A to Z Guide to Investment Terms by David L. Scott.
Copyright © 2003. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
Cite This Source
Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: ab·sorb
Function: transitive verb
1 : to make (a right guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution) applicable to the states
2 a : to bear or assume the burden of absorbed by the company> b : to lessen the tax liability for absorb the income —D. Q. Posin>
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Cite This Source
Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: ab·sorb
Pronunciation: &b-'so(&)rb, -'zo(&)rb
Function: transitive verb
1 : to take up especially by capillary,osmotic, solvent, or chemical action absorbed by the body> absorbs oxygen>
2 : totransform (radiant energy) into a different form usually with a resulting rise in temperature absorbs the other colors of light> —ab·sorb·able /&b-'sor-b&-b&l, -'zor-/ adjective —ab·sorb·er noun
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Cite This Source
Medical Dictionary

absorb ab·sorb (əb-sôrb', -zôrb')
v. ab·sorbed, ab·sorb·ing, ab·sorbs

  1. To take in by absorption.

  2. To reduce the intensity of transmitted light.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
Search another word or see absorbing on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us:
Partner Sites:
Ask AnswersEviteExpediaHotelsHotwireLife123LiveDailyMy Way