absorption

1. (chemistry) a process in which one substance permeates another;
   A fluid permeates or is dissolved by a liquid or solid (synset 113445095)
   referred to in: chemical science, chemistry - the science of matter; the branch of the natural sciences dealing with the composition of substances and their properties and reactions
   is a type of: sorption - the process in which one substance takes up or holds another (by either absorption or adsorption)
   subtypes: imbibition - (chemistry) the absorption of a liquid by a solid or gel
   same as: soaking up
2. (physics) the process in which incident radiated energy is retained without reflection or transmission on passing through a medium (synset 113445356)
   "the absorption of photons by atoms or molecules"
   referred to in: natural philosophy, physics - the science of matter and energy and their interactions
   is a type of: action, activity, natural action, natural process - a process existing in or produced by nature (rather than by the intent of human beings)
   is a part of: extinction - the reduction of the intensity of radiation as a consequence of absorption and radiation
3. The social process of absorbing one cultural group into harmony with another (synset 113456051)
   is a type of: social process - a process involved in the formation of groups of persons
   subtypes:

   • americanisation, americanization - assimilation into American culture
   • anglicisation, anglicization - the act of anglicizing; making English in appearance
   • europeanisation, europeanization - assimilation into European culture
   • westernisation, westernization - assimilation of Western culture; the social process of becoming familiar with or converting to the customs and practices of Western civilization
   same as: assimilation
4. The process of absorbing nutrients into the body after digestion (synset 113455861)
   is a type of: biological process, organic process - a process occurring in living organisms
   subtypes:

   • anabolism, constructive metabolism - the synthesis in living organisms of more complex substances (e.g., living tissue) from simpler ones together with the storage of energy
   • malabsorption - abnormal absorption of nutrients from the digestive tract
   same as: assimilation
5. Complete attention;
   Intense mental effort (synset 105712213)
   is a type of: attention - the faculty or power of mental concentration
   subtypes:

   • centering, direction, focal point, focus, focusing, focussing - the concentration of attention or energy on something
   • specialism - the concentration of your efforts on a particular field of study or occupation
   • study - a state of deep mental absorption
   same as: concentration, engrossment, immersion
6. The mental state of being preoccupied by something (synset 105708052)
   is a type of: cognitive state, state of mind - the state of a person's cognitive processes
   subtypes:

   • abstractedness, abstraction - preoccupation with something to the exclusion of all else
   • absentmindedness - preoccupation so great that the ordinary demands on attention are ignored
   same as: engrossment, preoccupancy, preoccupation

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