imbibition

American  

[im-buh-bish-uhn] / ˌɪm bəˈbɪʃ ən /

noun

1. act of imbibing.

2. Physical Chemistry. the absorption of solvent by a gel.

3. Photography. (in color printing) absorption of dye by gelatin, as in the dye-transfer process.

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imbibition British  

/ ˌɪmbɪˈbɪʃən /

noun

1. chem the absorption or adsorption of a liquid by a gel or solid

2. photog the absorption of dyes by gelatine, used in some colour printing processes

3. obsolete the act of imbibing

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Other Word Forms

• imbibitional adjective

Etymology

Origin of imbibition

late Middle English word dating back to 1425–75; see origin at imbibe, -ition

Example Sentences

Surface-energy is also expressed in the powerful attractions for water exhibited in imbibition, swelling, capillarity, absorption, surface tensions, etc.

From Disease in Plants by Ward, H. Marshall

Delayed by the mirror to the extent of having consumed but half of his refreshing draft, yet purposing further imbibition, Judge Henderson paused at the sound of some person ascending the outer stair.

From The Broken Gate A Novel by Hough, Emerson

But the most remarkable and interesting case of this kind of action is the imbibition of oxygen by metallic platinum.

From Familiar Letters on Chemistry by Liebig, Justus, Freiherr von

The scent of Thelephora fastidiosa is bad enough, but, like that of Coprinus picaceus, it is probably derived from the imbibition of the ordure on which it is developed.

From Fungi: Their Nature and Uses by Cooke, M. C. (Mordecai Cubitt)

A third effect of increasing acidity is that it induces increased imbibition of water by the colloidal gel and causes swelling of the tissue.

From The Chemistry of Plant Life by Thatcher, Roscoe Wilfred

Related Words

• concentration