osmosis
Use Osmosis in a sentence
Ads
Dehydrated from drinking? www.osmosishydration.com/ Hangover recovery is here. Plan for the morning after.
Osmosis www.advancedspa.com/OsmosisSkinCare Osmosis by Pur Medical Skin Care. Instant Savings & Free Shipping
sɪs, ɒs- noun
1.
Physical Chemistry, cell Biology.
a.
the tendency of a fluid, usually water, to pass through a semipermeable membrane into a solution where the solvent concentration is higher, thus equalizing the concentrations of materials on either side of the membrane.
b.
the diffusion of fluids through membranes or porous partitions. Compare endosmosis, exosmosis.
2.
a subtle or gradual absorption or mingling: He never studies but seems to learn by osmosis.
Origin:
1865–70; Latinized form of now obsolete osmose osmosis, extracted from endosmose endosmosis, exosmose exosmosis < French, equivalent to end- end-, ex- ex-2 + Greek ōsm(ós) push, thrust + French -ose -osis
1865–70; Latinized form of now obsolete osmose osmosis, extracted from endosmose endosmosis, exosmose exosmosis < French, equivalent to end- end-, ex- ex-2 + Greek ōsm(ós) push, thrust + French -ose -osis
Related forms
os·mot·i·cal·ly, adverb
non·os·mot·ic, adjective
non·os·mot·i·cal·ly, adverb
un·os·mot·ic, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
|
Link To osmosis
00:10
Osmosis
is always a great word to know.
So is hypertonic. Does it mean:
| solution more concentrated than cell |
| same spelling and pronunciation but having a different meaning |
Collins
World English Dictionary
osmosis (ɒzˈməʊsɪs, ɒs-) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —n | |
| 1. | the passage of a solvent through a semipermeable membrane from a less concentrated to a more concentrated solution until both solutions are of the same concentration |
| 2. | diffusion through any membrane or porous barrier, as in dialysis |
| 3. | gradual or unconscious assimilation or adoption, as of ideas |
| [C19: Latinized form from | |
| osmotic | |
| —adj | |
| os'motically | |
| —adv | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
osmosis
1867, originally endosmose (1830s) "inward passage of a fluid through a porous septum," from Fr. endo- "inward" + Gk. osmos "a thrusting, a pushing," from othein "to push, to thrust," from PIE *wedhe- "to push, strike" (cf. Skt. vadhati "pushes, strikes, destroys," Avestan vadaya- "to repulse"). Fig.
sense is from 1900.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Medical Dictionary
osmosis os·mo·sis (ŏz-mō'sĭs, ŏs-)
n. pl. os·mo·ses (-sēz)
Diffusion of fluid through a semipermeable membrane until there is an equal concentration of fluid on both sides of the membrane.
The tendency of fluids to diffuse in such a manner.
os·mot'ic (-mŏt'ĭk) adj.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Science Dictionary
osmosis (ŏz-mō'sĭs) Pronunciation Key
(click for larger image in new window) The movement of a solvent through a membrane separating two solutions of different concentrations. The solvent from the side of weaker concentration usually moves to the side of the stronger concentration, diluting it, until the concentrations of the solutions are equal on both sides of the membrane. ◇ The pressure exerted by the molecules of the solvent on the membrane they pass through is called osmotic pressure. Osmotic pressure is the energy driving osmosis and is important for living organisms because it allows water and nutrients dissolved in water to pass through cell membranes. |
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Cultural Dictionary
osmosis [(ahz-moh-sis, ahs-moh-sis)]The seeping of a fluid through a seemingly solid barrier, such as a cell wall or a rubber sheet. When the concentration of the fluid is the same on both sides of the barrier, osmosis stops.
Note: Informally, “osmosis” is the process by which information or concepts come to a person without conscious effort: “Living in Paris, he learned French slang by osmosis.”
The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Example sentences
Pumped storage would work for them, as would reverse osmosis water production.
Let me start by saying that my reverse osmosis water system is great.
Nearby Words
Copyright © 2013 Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.
