| condensed area found on all eukaryotic cells near the center |
| the spred of an item or a pattern from one area to another, without changing in the process. The term diffusion is also used in a more general sense, referring to any sort of spread or even adaptation. For discussion in world histroy, however, there are a |
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.
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 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.”