imbibe

The definition of imbibe is to take in with the senses or the mind, or to consume something, especially alcohol.

(verb)

  1. When you learn something through listening to it and absorbing the information, this is an example of imbibe.
  2. When you drink alcohol, this is an example of imbibe.

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See imbibe in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb imbibed, imbibing

    1. to drink (esp. alcoholic liquor)
    2. to take in with the senses; drink in
    1. to absorb (moisture)
    2. to inhale
  1. to take in with the senses or mind; drink in

Origin: ME enbiben < L imbibere < in-, in + bibere, to drink < *pibere < IE *pi-, *pō-, to drink > Sans pti, (he) drinks, L potare

intransitive verb

to drink, esp. alcoholic liquor

Related Forms:

See imbibe in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb im·bibed, im·bib·ing, im·bibes
verb, transitive
  1. To drink.
  2. To absorb or take in as if by drinking: “The whole body . . . imbibes delight through every pore” (Henry David Thoreau).
  3. To receive and absorb into the mind: “Gladstone had . . . imbibed a strong prejudice against Americans” (Philip Magnus).
  4. Obsolete To permeate; saturate.
verb, intransitive
To drink alcoholic beverages.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English embiben, to soak up, saturate

Origin: , from Latin imbibere, to drink in, imbibe

Origin: : in-, in; see in-2

Origin: + bibere, to drink; see pō(i)- in Indo-European roots

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Related Forms:

  • im·bibˈer noun

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