imbibe

• POS: Verb (usu participle), Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: im=bibe

CIDE DICTIONARY

imbibe, v. t. [L. imbibere; pref. im- in + bibere to drink: cf. F. imbiber. Cf. Bib, Imbue, Potable.].

•  To drink in; to absorb; to soak up; to suck or take in; to receive as by drinking; as, a person imbibes drink, or a sponge imbibes moisture.  [1913 Webster]
•  To receive or absorb into the mind and retain; as, to imbibe principles; to imbibe errors.  [1913 Webster]
•  To saturate; to imbue.  Sir I. Newton.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

imbibe, v.tr.
1 (also absol.) drink (esp. alcoholic liquor).
2 a absorb or assimilate (ideas etc.). b absorb (moisture etc.).
3 inhale (air etc.).

Derivative

imbiber n. imbibition n.

Etymology

ME f. L imbibere (as IN-(2), bibere drink)

THESAURUS

imbibe

absorb, adsorb, assimilate, bib, blot, blot up, booze, chemisorb, chemosorb, devour, digest, drain the cup, dram, drink, drink bottoms-up, drink deep, drink hard, drink in, drink off, drink to, drink up, eat, engorge, engross, engulf, filter in, follow strong drink, gargle, gobble, grog, gulp, gulp down, guzzle, incorporate, infiltrate, ingest, ingurgitate, knock back, lap, lap up, liquor up, nip, osmose, percolate in, pledge, pull, quaff, seep in, sip, slurp up, soak, soak in, soak up, sorb, sponge, suck, suck in, suckle, sup, swallow, swig, swill, swill down, swill up, take in, take up, tank up, tipple, toast, tope, toss, toss down, toss off, wash down, wolf down

ROGET THESAURUS

imbibe

Reception

VB give entrance to, give admittance to, give the entree, introduce, intromit, usher, admit, receive, import, bring in, open the door to, throw in, ingest, absorb, imbibe, inhale, breathe in, let in, take in, suck in, draw in, readmit, resorb, reabsorb, snuff up, swallow, ingurgitate, engulf, engorge, gulp, eat, drink.