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Absorption

The process of absorbing, specifically:

1. (Science: physiology) The movement and uptake of substances (liquids and solutes) into cells or across tissues such as skin, intestine and kidney tubules, by way of diffusion or osmosis.

2. (Science: chemistry) The drawing of a gas or liquid into the pores of a permeable solid.

3. (Science: psychology) The devotion of thought to one object or activity, with inattention to others.

4. (Science: radiology) The taking up of energy by matter with which the radiation interacts.

5. (Science: physics) The loss of (electromagnetic) energy to a medium. For instance, an electromagnetic wave which propagates through a plasma will set the electrons into motion. If the electrons make collisions with other particles, they will absorb net energy from the wave.

6. (Science: immunology) a process in which an antigen or antibody is used to pull an analogous antigen or antibody out of a solution.

Compare: adsorption.

Origin: L. Absorptio (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.The process of absorbing nutrients into the body after digestion.Complete attention; intense mental effort.The mental state of being preoccupied by something.(chemistry) a process in which one substance permeates another; a fluid permeates or is dissolved by a liquid or solid.Where substances either actively or passively enter another mass, such as in photosynthesis where light energy is actively absorbed into chlorophyll to make chemical Energy.