absorbent

/əb'sɔ:bənt/

Thân thiện

A sponge is an absorbent material that soaks up spilled water.

Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Having the property or ability to take in and hold liquid, moisture, or other substances.
   • Capable of absorbing energy, light, or sound.

2. Noun:

   • A substance or material that soaks up liquid or other substances easily.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective:
  • Use an absorbent cloth to clean up the spill.
  • The soil here is very absorbent, which is good for the plants.
• Noun:
  • Paper towel is a common absorbent used in kitchens.
  • The absorbent in the diaper keeps the baby dry.

Advanced Usage

• Technical/Scientific Context: In chemistry and materials science, "absorbent" describes materials designed to take in specific gases, liquids, or radiation.
  • Activated charcoal is an effective absorbent for many toxins.
• Medical Context: Refers to materials used to soak up bodily fluids.
  • The surgeon placed absorbent gauze over the wound.

Variants and Related Words

• Absorbency (noun): The degree to which a material can absorb.
  • This towel has high absorbency.
• Absorbent cotton (noun phrase): Purified cotton used for its absorbent properties, especially in medical applications.
• Superabsorbent (adjective): Describing a material with an extremely high capacity to absorb liquid.
  • Superabsorbent polymers are used in disposable diapers.

Synonyms

• Porous: Having tiny holes that allow liquids or air to pass through.
• Spongy: Soft and able to absorb liquid easily, like a sponge.
• Bibulous (formal): Tending to absorb fluids; absorbent.

Antonyms

• Waterproof: Impervious to water.
• Nonporous: Not allowing liquid or air to pass through.
• Repellent: Tending to repel or drive away (e.g., water-repellent fabric).

Related Phrases and Compounds

• Oil absorbent: A material specifically designed to soak up oil.
  • They used oil absorbent pads to clean the garage floor.
• Sound absorbent: A material that reduces noise by absorbing sound waves.
  • The studio walls were lined with sound-absorbent panels.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. having power or capacity or tendency to absorb or soak up something (liquids or energy etc.)
   • as absorbent as a sponge

Noun

1. a material having capacity or tendency to absorb another substance

Từ đồng nghĩa

• absorptive
• absorbent material