absorbent

4 definitions found

absorbent - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  absorbent \ab*sorb"ent\ ([a^]b*s[^o]rb"ent), a. [L. absorbens,
     p. pr. of absorbere.]
     Absorbing; swallowing; absorptive.
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     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.
        [1913 Webster]

  Absorbent \Ab*sorb"ent\, n.
     1. Anything which absorbs. AS
        [1913 Webster]
  
              The ocean, itself a bad absorbent of heat. --Darwin.
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     2. (Med.) 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. AS
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. pl. (Physiol.) The vessels by which the processes of
        absorption are carried on, as the lymphatics in animals,
        the extremities of the roots in plants. AS
        [1913 Webster]

absorbent - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  absorbent
      adj 1: having power or capacity or tendency to absorb or soak up
             something (liquids or energy etc.); "as absorbent as a
             sponge" [syn: absorbent, absorptive] [ant:
             nonabsorbent, nonabsorptive]
      n 1: a material having capacity or tendency to absorb another
           substance [syn: absorbent material, absorbent]

absorbent - Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 :

  21 Moby Thesaurus words for "absorbent":
     absorbency, absorption, adsorbent, adsorption, assimilation,
     blotter, blotting, blotting paper, chemisorption, chemosorption,
     digestion, endosmosis, engrossment, exosmosis, infiltration,
     osmosis, percolation, seepage, sorption, sponge, sponging