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Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary ab·sorb ETYMOLOGY Anglo-French asorbir to swallow up, from Latin absorbēre, from ab- + sorbēre to suck up; akin to Lithuanian surbtito sip, Greek rophein to gulp down DATE 15th century 1. to take in and make part of an existent whole the capacity of China to absorb invaders 2. a. to suck up or take up a sponge absorbs water charcoal absorbs gas plant roots absorb water b. to take in : acquire , learn convictions absorbed in youth — M. R. Cohen c. use up, consume the fever absorbed her strength 3. to engage or engross wholly absorbed in thought 4. a. (1) to receive without recoil or echo provided with a sound-absorbing surface (2) endure , sustain absorbing hardships (3) assume , bear the expenses were absorbed by the company b. to transform (radiant energy) into a different form especially with a resulting rise in temperature the earth absorbs the sun's rays • ab·sorb·er noun English Etymology absorb late 15c., from M.Fr . absorber (http://M.Fr O.Fr . assorbir), from L.absorbere "to swallow up," from ab- "from" + sorbere "suck in," from PIE base *srebh- "to suck, absorb" (cf. Armenian arbi "I drank," Gk. rhopheo "to sup greedily up, gulp down," Lith. srebiu"to drink greedily"). Figurative meaning "to completely grip (one's) attention" is from 1753.http://O.Fr Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary-牛津双解-OALD7 ☞ absorb ab·sorb / Eb5sC:b; -5zC:b; NAmE -5sC:rb; -5zC:rb / verb[VN] LIQUID / GAS 液体；气体 1. to take in a liquid, gas or other substance from the surface or space around 吸收(液体、气体等): Plants absorb oxygen. 植物吸收氧气。 The cream is easily absorbed into the skin. 这种乳霜皮肤易吸收。 MAKE PART OF STH LARGER 使并入 2. [often passive] to make sth smaller become part of sth larger 使并入；吞并；同化: The surrounding small towns have been absorbed into the city. 四周的小城镇已并入这座城市。 The country simply cannot absorb this influx of refugees. 这个国家实在没有能力接纳这么多涌入的难民。 INFORMATION 信息 3. to take sth into the mind and learn or understand it 理解；掌握 SYN take in :
It's a lot of information to absorb all at once. 要一下子消化这些资料,真是很多。 INTEREST SB 引起兴趣 4. to interest sb very much so that they pay no attention to anything else 吸引全部注意力；使全神贯注 SYN engross :
This work had absorbed him for several years. 这项工作曾使他沉迷了好几年。 HEAT / LIGHT / ENERGY 热；光；能 5. to take in and keep heat, light, energy, etc. instead of reflecting it 吸收(热、光、能等): Black walls absorb a lot of heat during the day. 黑色墙壁在白天吸收大量的热。 SHOCK / IMPACT 震动；撞击 6. to reduce the effect of a blow, hit, etc. 减轻(打击、碰击等的)作用: This tennis racket absorbs shock on impact. 这个网球拍能减轻撞击所产生的剧烈震动。 ⇨ see also shock absorber MONEY / TIME / CHANGES 金钱；时间；变化 7. to use up a large supply of sth, especially money or time 耗费,耗去(大量金钱、时间等): The new proposals would absorb $80 billion of the federal budget. 这些新提案将耗费 800 亿元联邦政府预算。 8. to deal with changes, effects, costs, etc. 承受,承担,对付(变化、结果、费用等): The company is unable to absorb such huge losses. 公司无法承受如此巨大的损失。 Oxford Collocations Dictionary for Students of English absorb verb 1 liquid/gas/energy, etc. ADV. quickly, rapidly | directly, easily, readily PREP. into Nutrients are absorbed into the bloodstream. 2 make part of sth larger ADV. gradually | increasingly PHRASES be absorbed into sth These committees were gradually absorbed into the local government machine. 3 information/atmosphere ADV. easily, readily The information is presented so that it can be readily absorbed. | passively 4 interest ADV. completely, totally, utterly His work absorbed him completely. | deeply OLT absorb verb ⇨ interest (work absorbs sb)⇨ use 2 (absorb money/time)⇨ withstand (absorb shock) Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged ab·sorb \əbˈsȯ(ə)rb, -ˈz-, -ȯ(ə)b also ab-\ transitive verb (-ed/-ing/-s) Etymology: Middle French absorber, from Latin absorbēre, from ab- ab- (I) + sorbēre to suck up, swallow; akin to Greek rhophein to sup up, Middle Irish srub snout, Lithuanian srė̃bti to sip, and perhaps to Middle High German sürpfeln to sip, Norwegian slurpe 1. archaic : to swallow up : engulf < absorbed by oblivion > 2. : assimilate , incorporate < the power of Chinese civilization to absorb new arrivals — G.W.Johnson > 3. a. : to suck up : take up by various means (as by capillary, osmotic, solvent, or chemical action) < water absorbed by plant roots > < absorb ammonia gas in water > — distinguished from adsorb b. : to take in : imbibe < convictions absorbed in youth — M.R.Cohen > < the prudential morality he had absorbed from Puritanism — R.H.Gabriel > 4. : to engage wholly < absorbed in thoughts of poetry — E.W.H.Lumsden > : occupy fully < work absorbs most of his time > 5. a. : to receive the impact of or undergo the shock of without recoil < absorb the vibration of machinery > < capable of absorbing punishment > b. : to receive without repercussion or echo < walls lined with material that absorbs sound > c. : to transform (radiant energy) into a different form usually with a resulting rise of temperature (as when the earth receives energy from the sun) < neutrons absorbed by cadmium rods > 6. a. : to take up by purchase < the business being absorbed by a competitor > < the market absorbed the entire production > b. : to take over (a cost) < traveling expenses absorbed by the employer > Synonyms: see monopolize |
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