absorbent

• POS: Adjective, Noun
• HYPHEN: ab=sorb=ent

CIDE DICTIONARY

absorbent, a. [L. absorbens, p. pr. of absorbere.].

 Absorbing; swallowing; absorptive.  [1913 Webster]

Absorbent ground (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.

absorbent, n. 

•  Anything which absorbs.  [1913 Webster]

  "The ocean, itself a bad absorbent of heat."  [1913 Webster]
•  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.  [1913 Webster]
•  The vessels by which the processes of absorption are carried on, as the lymphatics in animals, the extremities of the roots in plants.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

absorbent, adj. & n.
--adj. having a tendency to absorb (esp. liquids).
--n.
1 an absorbent substance.
2 any of the vessels in plants and animals (e.g. root tips) that absorb nutriment.

Derivative

absorbency n.

Etymology

L absorbent- f. absorbere ABSORB

THESAURUS

absorbent

absorbency, absorption, adsorbent, adsorption, assimilation, blotter, blotting, blotting paper, chemisorption, chemosorption, digestion, endosmosis, engrossment, exosmosis, infiltration, osmosis, percolation, seepage, sorption, sponge, sponging

ROGET THESAURUS

absorbent

Reception

N reception, admission, admittance, entree, importation, introduction, intromission, immission, ingestion, imbibation, introception, absorption, ingurgitation, inhalation, suction, sucking, eating, drinking, insertion, interjection, introit, admitting, admitted, admissable, absorbent.