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 , immersion ]

  6. the mental state of being preoccupied by something

    [ Syn: preoccupation , preoccupancy , engrossment ]

The dictionary is based on the WordNet Electronic Lexical Database.
WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2011 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.