absorbent Hear it!

absorbent Definition

ab·sorb·ent (ab sôr′bənt, -zôr′-; -əb-)

adjective

capable of absorbing moisture, light rays, etc.

Etymology: L absorbens, prp. of absorbere: see absorb

noun

a thing or substance that absorbs

absorbent Related Forms
ab·sorb′·ency noun
absorbent Synonyms

absorbent

modif.

porous, absorptive, spongy, permeable, dry, soft, pervious, pregnable, assimilative, imbibing, penetrable, receptive, retentive, spongiose, thirsty.

Antonyms impermeable, impervious, solid.

absorbent Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • contain: These are relatively low cost, plastic tubes which contain a prepared absorbent which can later be desorbed for analysis and measurement.
  • mop: Keep rags, mops, absorbents, and other cleanup supplies readily accessible to all work areas.

Adjective modifier

  • artificial: Many disposable diapers today contain artificial chemical absorbents such as sodium polyacrylate.

Adjective complement with noun phrase

  • make: The brushing also makes the leather even more absorbent than aniline leathers.

Modifies a noun

  • granule: Even the use of absorbent granules to remove these spills can be a hazard.
  • dressing: The 18 strength honey is impregnated into highly absorbent alginate fiber dressings - ideal for dressing wounds.
  • padding: All these dressings should not require a secondary dressing, as their absorbent padding should absorb minimal exudate from the wound.
  • diaper: A great fitting, highly absorbent diaper which, despite the name, comes in 3 sizes to fit newborn babies through to toddlers.
  • bedding: Offers a dust free, absorbent, easy maintenance bedding.
  • towel: The final step is always to rinse the area carefully with water, then absorb all the remaining moisture with absorbent towels.

Used with adjective complement

  • become: It will become more absorbent each time, for the first 10 washes.

Noun used with modifier

  • chemical: Plus, industrial hose, oil and chemical absorbents and various industrial products from 5 depots in North Wales and 1 in Runcorn.

Modifying Another Word

  • acoustically: The entire ceiling area was faced with acoustically absorbent material.
  • highly: A great fitting, highly absorbent diaper which, despite the name, comes in 3 sizes to fit newborn babies through to toddlers.
  • extremely: An extremely absorbent terry diaper, with a fold out booster, which speeds up drying time.
  • very: For very absorbent surfaces dampen the surface down first with a damp cloth or sponge.
  • not: All liners are not absorbent, they are intended to hold the poo away from the diaper for easy disposal.
  • naturally: Cotton is a naturally absorbent material that doesn't need to use the chemical absorbers which are present in disposable diapers.

Preposition: than

  • cotton: Firstly there's the absorbency bamboo is 30 % more absorbent than cotton.
  • shaving: It's actually five times more absorbent than wood shavings.