English verb: absorb | |||
1. | absorb (contact) become imbued | ||
Samples | The liquids, light, and gases absorb. | ||
Pattern of use | Something ----s | ||
Broader (hypernym) | sorb, take up | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | assimilate, imbibe, reabsorb, resorb | ||
Domain category | chemical science, chemistry | ||
2. | absorb (cognition) take up mentally | ||
Samples | He absorbed the knowledge or beliefs of his tribe. | ||
Synonyms | assimilate, ingest, take in | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | acquire, larn, learn | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | imbibe | ||
3. | absorb (possession) take up, as of debts or payments | ||
Samples | Absorb the costs for something. | ||
Synonyms | take over | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something. Something ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | fund | ||
4. | absorb (contact) take in, also metaphorically | ||
Samples | The sponge absorbs water well. She drew strength from the minister's words. | ||
Synonyms | draw, imbibe, soak up, sop up, suck, suck up, take in, take up | ||
Pattern of use | Something ----s something | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | blot, mop, mop up, sponge up, wipe up | ||
5. | absorb (change) cause to become one with | ||
Samples | The sales tax is absorbed into the state income tax. | ||
Pattern of use | Something ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | blend, coalesce, combine, commingle, conflate, flux, fuse, immix, meld, merge, mix | ||
6. | absorb (weather) suck or take up or in | ||
Samples | A black star absorbs all matter. | ||
Synonyms | take in | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something. Something ----s something | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | suck, suck in | ||
Antonyms | give out, emit, give off | ||
7. | absorb (cognition) devote (oneself) fully to | ||
Samples | He immersed himself into his studies. | ||
Synonyms | engross, engulf, immerse, plunge, soak up, steep | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something. Somebody ----s somebody. Somebody ----s somebody PP | ||
Broader (hypernym) | center, centre, concentrate, focus, pore, rivet | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | drink, drink in | ||
Verb group | immerse, plunge | ||
8. | absorb (contact) assimilate or take in | ||
Samples | The immigrants were quickly absorbed into society. | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s somebody. Something ----s somebody | ||
Broader (hypernym) | invite, receive, take in | ||
9. | absorb (cognition) consume all of one's attention or time | ||
Samples | Her interest in butterflies absorbs her completely. | ||
Examples | The performance is likely to absorb Sue | ||
Synonyms | engage, engross, occupy | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s somebody. Something ----s somebody | ||
Broader (hypernym) | interest | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | consume, involve, rivet | ||