absorbabsorb /əbˈsɔrb, -ˈzɔrb/ ●●○ W3 verb [transitive] 1
LIQUID/SUBSTANCE science if something absorbs a liquid or other substance, it takes the substance into itself from the surface or space around it: Simmer the rice until all the liquid is absorbed.absorb something into something Lead that gets into your body is then absorbed into your bones.2INFORMATION to read or hear a large amount of new information and understand it: Her ability to absorb information is amazing.3INTEREST somebody to interest someone so much that he or she does not notice anything else: The movement and noise of the machines absorbed him completely.be absorbed in something He was absorbed in the conversation, and not paying much attention to his driving.4MAKE PART OF something BIGGER to make a smaller country, company, or group become part of a larger place or group: California absorbs many of the legal immigrants to the U.S.be absorbed into something Azerbaijan was absorbed into the Soviet Union in the 1920s.5DEAL WITH BAD SITUATION to be able to deal with a problem, loss, etc. without suffering too many other problems: The university had to absorb a $14 million cut in funding. The team managed to absorb the loss of three starting players.6MONEY/TIME ETC. if something absorbs money, time, etc. it uses a lot of it: Defense spending absorbs almost 20% of the country’s wealth.7FORCE to reduce the effect of a sudden violent movement: The lightweight padding is designed to absorb shock.8LIGHT/HEAT/ENERGY science, physics if a substance or object absorbs light, heat, or energy, it keeps it and does not reflect it (=send it back): Darker colored surfaces absorb more heat than lighter ones.[Origin: 1400–1500 French absorber, from Latin absorbere, from ab- away + sorbere to suck up]
LIQUID/SUBSTANCE science if something absorbs a liquid or other substance, it takes the substance into itself from the surface or space around it: Simmer the rice until all the liquid is absorbed.absorb something into something Lead that gets into your body is then absorbed into your bones.2INFORMATION to read or hear a large amount of new information and understand it: Her ability to absorb information is amazing.3INTEREST somebody to interest someone so much that he or she does not notice anything else: The movement and noise of the machines absorbed him completely.be absorbed in something He was absorbed in the conversation, and not paying much attention to his driving.4MAKE PART OF something BIGGER to make a smaller country, company, or group become part of a larger place or group: California absorbs many of the legal immigrants to the U.S.be absorbed into something Azerbaijan was absorbed into the Soviet Union in the 1920s.5DEAL WITH BAD SITUATION to be able to deal with a problem, loss, etc. without suffering too many other problems: The university had to absorb a $14 million cut in funding. The team managed to absorb the loss of three starting players.6MONEY/TIME ETC. if something absorbs money, time, etc. it uses a lot of it: Defense spending absorbs almost 20% of the country’s wealth.7FORCE to reduce the effect of a sudden violent movement: The lightweight padding is designed to absorb shock.8LIGHT/HEAT/ENERGY science, physics if a substance or object absorbs light, heat, or energy, it keeps it and does not reflect it (=send it back): Darker colored surfaces absorb more heat than lighter ones.[Origin: 1400–1500 French absorber, from Latin absorbere, from ab- away + sorbere to suck up]