English Lexicon

Absorption

/əbˈzɔːrpʃən/
nounCEFR B2 (Upper)Top #1500 frequency
Full Thesaurus

Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As noun
  1. 1

    The process or action by which one thing absorbs or is absorbed by another.

    "The absorption of nutrients occurs primarily in the small intestine."
  2. 2

    The state of being engrossed in something; complete mental preoccupation.

    "Her total absorption in her painting made her completely lose track of time."

Thesaurus & Semantic Spectrum

Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

The word 'absorption' originates from the Latin 'absorptio', which means 'to swallow up'. It evolved through Middle French before entering English in the late 14th century, reflecting a shift from a physical act of taking in to a broader application in various scientific and metaphorical contexts.

Quick Vocabulary Retention Check

Which of the following is the closest synonym for "Absorption"?

Thesaurus & Synonyms Graph

Explore Nuanced Synonyms for "Absorption"

Discover exact matches, context-specific alternatives, and antonyms with intensity ratings in the VocabDictionary Thesaurus.

View "Absorption" Synonym Map