absorbent

absorbent
1. adjective /əbsˈɔː(r)bənt/

Those paper towels were amazingly absorbent. That was quite a spill.

2. noun /əbsˈɔː(r)bənt/
a) Anything which absorbs.

In the Southern Ocean the winter is not so excessively cold, but the summer is far less hot, for the clouded sky seldom allows the sun to warm the ocean, itself a bad absorbent of heat: and hence the mean temperature of the year is low.

b) 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.

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  • Absorbent — Ab*sorb ent, n. 1. Anything which absorbs. [1913 Webster] The ocean, itself a bad absorbent of heat. Darwin. [1913 Webster] 2. (Med.) Any substance which absorbs and neutralizes acid fluid in the stomach and bowels, as magnesia, chalk, etc.; also …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • absorbent —  , absorbent ground    A material is absorbent when it can soak up liquids. Towels, rags, and sponges are common examples, often used to blot, clean up, apply and spread colors, etc. An absorbent ground is a ground or coating on a surface that… …   Glossary of Art Terms

  • Absorbent — Ab*sorb ent, 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… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • absorbent — index penetrable Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • absorbent — 1718, adjective and noun, from L. absorbentem (nom. absorbens), prp. of absorbere (see ABSORB (Cf. absorb)) …   Etymology dictionary

  • absorbent —  Absorbent  Абсорбент   Материал, поглощающий вещество (абсорбат) …   Толковый англо-русский словарь по нанотехнологии. - М.

  • absorbent — [adj] capable of physically taking in a liquid absorptive, bibulous, dry, imbibing, penetrable, permeable, porous, pregnable, retentive, spongy, thirsty; concept 603 Ant. impermeable …   New thesaurus

  • absorbent — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ able to soak up liquid easily. DERIVATIVES absorbency noun …   English terms dictionary

  • absorbent — [ab sôr′bənt, ab′zôr′bənt; əb sôr′bənt, əbzôr′bent] adj. [L absorbens, prp. of absorbere: see ABSORB] capable of absorbing moisture, light rays, etc. n. a thing or substance that absorbs absorbency n …   English World dictionary

  • absorbent — also absorbant adjective Etymology: Latin absorbent , absorbens, present participle of absorbēre Date: 1718 able to absorb < as absorbent as a sponge > • absorbent also absorbant noun …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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