absorb

absorbverb

Absorb is to take something in — a liquid, information, or a cost or force — until it becomes part of what takes it in or causes no problem.

1. soak up liquidtake in a liquid or another substance gradually

   transitive [T]

   • The towel absorbed the spilled water quickly.
   • Plants absorb water through their roots.
   • This paper absorbs ink well.
   • The soil absorbs most of the rain within an hour.

   Collocations

   verb + noun absorb water, absorb moisture

2. take in informationtake in information, ideas, or a feeling and come to understand or remember it

   transitive [T]

   • It took her a while to absorb the bad news.
   • He absorbed everything the teacher said.
   • Children absorb language quickly.
   • I need a few minutes to absorb all this information.

3. take on a cost or forcetake on and deal with a cost, change, or force without a serious effect

   transitive [T]

   • The company had to absorb the extra shipping costs.
   • The car's frame is designed to absorb the force of a crash.
   • Prices rose because stores could no longer absorb the tax increase.

   Collocations

   verb + noun absorb the cost, absorb the shock, absorb the impact