Hypertext Webster Gateway: "absorption"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Absorption \Ab*sorp"tion\, n. [L. absorptio, fr. absorbere. See
{Absorb}.]
1. The act or process of absorbing or sucking in anything, or
of being absorbed and made to disappear; as, the
absorption of bodies in a whirlpool, the absorption of a
smaller tribe into a larger.
2. (Chem. & Physics) An imbibing or reception by molecular or
chemical action; as, the absorption of light, heat,
electricity, etc.
3. (Physiol.) In living organisms, the process by which the
materials of growth and nutrition are absorbed and
conveyed to the tissues and organs.
4. Entire engrossment or occupation of the mind; as,
absorption in some employment.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
absorption
n 1: (chemistry) a process in which one substance permeates
another; a fluid permeates or is dissolved by a liquid
or solid [syn: {soaking up}]
2: (physics) the process in which incident radiated energy is
retained without reflection or transmission on passing
through a medium; "the absorption of photons by atoms or
molecules"
3: the social process of absorbing one cultural group into
harmony with another [syn: {assimilation}]
4: the process of absorbing nutrients into the body after
digestion [syn: {assimilation}]
5: complete attention; intense mental effort [syn: {concentration},
{engrossment}]
6: the mental state of being preoccupied by something [syn: {preoccupation},
{preoccupancy}, {engrossment}]
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