absorbingadj.
/əbˈzɔːbɪŋ/, /əbˈsɔːbɪŋ/, U.S. /əbˈzɔrbɪŋ/, /æbˈzɔrbɪŋ/, /əbˈsɔrbɪŋ/, /æbˈsɔrbɪŋ/ 1.
a. literal. That absorbs; (also) that incorporates or assimilates.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > liquid > action or process of absorbing > [adjective]
soakingc1440
drinking1583
spongy1609
bibbing1633
absorptive1664
absorbing1666
bibulous1676
absorbent1694
insorbent1756
hygroscopic1790
obsorbent1902
1666 G. Harvey Morbus Anglicus v. 25 Absorbing Emplasters to be applyed to the head,..Ventoses (Cupping-glasses),..and Phlebotomy (opening a Vein) are all summoned in as Herculean auxiliaries (helps), to dry the Brain.
1755 Philos. Trans. 1754 (Royal Soc.) 48 582 The absorbing and exhaling vessels, and the cuticle.
1795 A. H. Haworth Observ. Genus Mesembryanthemum ii. 405 The refuse or rejectamenta of any absorbed fluid, too large for the filtrating orifices of the absorbing vessels to take in.
1804 J. Farington Diary 29 Mar. (1923) II. lix. 218 Ward's process is to paint on an absorbing ground laid on the bare canvas.
1862 London Rev. & Weekly Jrnl. 23 Aug. 156 An amalgamation, under such circumstances, is a positive fraud on the proprietors of the absorbing office.
1965 C. K. Keck Handbk. Care Paintings ii. 29 Ground (often called priming), a mixture of pigment and binding medium used to fill in the physical irregularities in the support and give the artist an evenly absorbing surface on which to paint.
1997 E. Katz in Z. Ben-Sira Immigration, Stress, & Readjustm. Foreword p. ix. The stressful absorption of Russian immigrants,..a disequilibrating experience for both the immigrants and the absorbing society.
b. Physics. Of a material: that absorbs radiation or particles.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > incorporation or inclusion > assimilation or absorption > [adjective]
assimilative1528
assimilating1651
receptual1652
absorptive1664
absorbative1846
assimilatory1856
absorbing1902
osmotic1907
1902 Jrnl. Adv. Therapeutics 20 236 If the absorbing material is so constituted that its atomic arrangement may be easily modified or changed, then the X-rays will produce a change.
1904 E. Rutherford Radio-activity iv. 113 Leonard..has shown that the absorption of cathode rays is nearly proportional to the density of the absorbing matter.
1985 Vegetarian Times July 29/1 Absorbing screens actually absorb harmful rays.
2002 G. R. Choppin et al. Radiochem. & Nucl. Chem. (ed. 3) vi. 125 Interaction between the particle and the atoms of the absorbing material.
2. figurative. Engaging one's full attention or interest; engrossing. Cf. all-absorbing adj. at all adj., pron., n., adv., and conj. Compounds 2a(b)(ii).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > attention > earnest attention, concentration > [adjective] > absorbed, engrossed
absolute1483
rapta1500
wrapped1548
full1578
bewrapped1589
immerse1626
wholehearted1644
undistracted1659
absorpt1697
wrapped (up) in1711
deep1735
absorbed1763
undiverted1798
unindifferent1813
whole-souled1821
absorbing1825
wrapped1884
hung-up on1966
1825 Atheneum: Spirit of Eng. Mags. 1 Oct. 120/1 The attention has been, from first to last, fettered to one absorbing study.
1876 E. A. Freeman Hist. Norman Conquest II. ix. 330 He must have been engaged at this time in some such absorbing pursuit.
1907 Yale Lit. Mag. Nov. 80 The author has a plot and a direct, concise manner of telling his story that makes the book absorbing.
1954 Pop. Mech Mar. 106/2 Given an absorbing problem and protected from distractions, the mind tends to find a solution at some level below consciousness.
2004 B. Cairncross Field Guide Rocks & Minerals Southern Afr. Introd. 10/1 The collecting and investment in gemstones is an absorbing pastime, whether on a professional or amateur level.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2011; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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adj.1666