absorbent

[ ab-sawr-buhnt, -zawr- ]

adjective

1. capable of absorbing heat, light, moisture, etc.; tending to absorb.

noun

1. something that absorbs:

   Tons of high-powered absorbents were needed to clean up the oil spill.

absorbent

/ əbˈsɔːbənt; -ˈzɔː- /

adjective

1. able to absorb

noun

1. a substance that absorbs

Derived Forms

• abˈsorbency, noun

Other Words From

• ab·sorben·cy noun
• nonab·sorben·cy noun
• nonab·sorbent adjective noun
• preab·sorbent adjective noun
• semi·ab·sorbent adjective
• unab·sorbent adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of absorbent¹

First recorded in 1710–20, absorbent is from the Latin word absorbent- (stem of absorbēns, present participle of absorbēre ). See absorb, -ent

Example Sentences

These chemicals can help make the material in tampons and pads more absorbent, but advocates argue they can be replaced by safer substances.

From Los Angeles Times

“The dressing’s bulked up a bit because you need a bit of absorbent. You don’t want to be walking around with bloody gauze on his ear,” Jackson said.

From Salon

These adhesives work by rapidly absorbing water from wet tissues, using polyacrylic acid, an absorbent material used in diapers.

From Science Daily

The researchers painstakingly removed each drowned flea using tweezers, set them to dry on absorbent paper, and then transferred them to test tubes for laboratory identification and analyses.

From Science Daily

Dry off the exterior with a towel or clean cloth, even your shirtsleeve — anything that’s absorbent.

From Seattle Times