osmosis
Osmosis is defined as the distribution of liquid with a low concentration flowing through a membrane into an area with a higher concentration resulting in the concentrations being equal on both sides.
(noun)An example of osmosis is when red blood cells, which have a high concentration of protein and salt, are placed in a lower concentration fluid like water, the water will rush into the red blood cells.
Osmosis is gradual absorption.
(noun)An example of osmosis is slowly learning how to sew after sitting next to an experience seamstress.
See osmosis in Webster's New World College Dictionary
noun
- the tendency of a solvent to pass through a semipermeable membrane, as the wall of a living cell, into a solution of higher concentration, so as to equalize concentrations on both sides of the membrane
- the diffusion of fluids through a membrane or porous partition
- an apparently effortless absorption of ideas, feelings, attitudes, etc., as if by biological osmosis
Origin: ModL, ult. < Gr ōsmos, impulse < ōthein, to push < IE base *wedh-, to push, strike > Sans vádhar-, deadly weapon
Related Forms:
- osmotic adjective
- osmotically adverb
See osmosis in American Heritage Dictionary 4
noun pl. os·mo·ses (-sēz)
- a. Diffusion of fluid through a semipermeable membrane from a solution with a low solute concentration to a solution with a higher solute concentration until there is an equal concentration of fluid on both sides of the membrane.b. The tendency of fluids to diffuse in such a manner.
- A gradual, often unconscious process of assimilation or absorption: learned French by osmosis while residing in Paris for 15 years.
Origin:
Origin: From obsolete osmose
Origin: , from earlier endosmose
Origin: , from French
Origin: : Greek endo-, endo-
Origin: + Greek ōsmos, thrust, push (from ōthein, to push)
.Related Forms:
- os·motˈic (-mŏtˈĭk) adjective
- os·motˈi·cal·ly adverb
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