absorbableadj.
/əbˈzɔːbəbl/, /əbˈsɔːbəbl/, U.S. /əbˈzɔrbəb(ə)l/, /æbˈzɔrbəb(ə)l/, /əbˈsɔrbəb(ə)l/, /æbˈsɔrbəb(ə)l/ Capable of being absorbed or assimilated.
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the world > matter > chemistry > chemical properties > [adjective] > capable of being absorbed
absorbable1779
sorbile1799
1779 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 69 385 Which..might more properly be called vapour, as it is absorbable by water.
1830 Philos. Mag. 2nd Ser. 8 304 Salicine, burnt with oxide of copper in a proper apparatus, yielded a gas entirely absorbable by potash.
1859 G. H. Lewes Physiol. Common Life I. iii. 208 Liquid albumen is very slightly absorbable and not at all assimilable; but when acted on in the stomach, it becomes readily absorbable and assimilable.
1936 W. Stiles Introd. Princ. Plant Physiol. x. 246 Ammonium salts, nitrites and nitrates are all absorbable and utilizable by plants.
1969 Brit. Med. Jrnl. 3 May 308/1 A synthetic absorbable suture material made of polyglycolic acid (P.G.A.) has recently been developed.
2001 Kindred Spirit Summer 88/3 (advt.) Colloidal mineral supplement for health and wellbeing. 100% organic and 98% absorbable.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2011; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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adj.1779