absorption
/əbˈzɔːpʃn/ (bre, ipa) · /əbˈzɔːrpʃn/ (ame, ipa) · /əb-ˈsȯrp-shən -ˈzȯrp-/ (ame, mw)
absorption — noun
1. the way that one material — for example water, air, sound, or heat — soaks into
the way that one material — for example water, air, sound, or heat — soaks into or is drawn inside another, so that it becomes part of it.
Vitamin D helps the absorption of calcium from food into the bones.
absorption of [substance] into [body part]
Dark curtains improve the absorption of sound in the small recording room.
absorption of sound / energy
Dr. Patel measured the absorption of the dye by the cotton fibres.
Black surfaces show high absorption of heat from sunlight.
The skin's absorption of the cream was slow because of the cold weather.
- uptake
more technical; common in biology and economics
- soaking up
informal phrasing for the same physical process
- release
the opposite direction — letting a substance out
- reflection
specifically for light or sound bouncing back instead of being taken in
文法句型
absorption of [substance]
absorption into [body/material]
用法筆記
Almost always uncountable. Subject is typically a substance, surface, or body part; the thing taken in is introduced by 'of', and the receiving medium often by 'into' or 'by'.
常見錯誤
2. the state of being so deeply focused on a book, task, or thought that you almost
the state of being so deeply focused on a book, task, or thought that you almost forget what is happening around you.
Nikolai's absorption in her painting was so deep that she missed dinner.
absorption in [activity]
The boy's complete absorption in the video game worried his parents.
complete / total absorption
Sophie's absorption in her novel kept her at the desk past midnight.
Mr. Lin watched the chess players' silent absorption in the final match.
- engrossment
formal; same idea of total focus
- preoccupation
may suggest worry, not just deep interest
- concentration
more about effort; absorption suggests being lost in something
- distraction
the opposite mental state — attention pulled away
文法句型
absorption in [activity/subject]
用法筆記
Frequently followed by 'in' + a noun naming the activity or subject of focus. Often modified by 'complete', 'total', or 'deep'. Distinguish from sense 1 (TAKING IN) by the abstract subject — a person's mind, not a substance.
常見錯誤
3. in business, the act of a company paying extra costs or losses itself rather tha
in business, the act of a company paying extra costs or losses itself rather than passing them on to customers or workers.
The factory announced full absorption of the new tariff costs to keep prices steady.
absorption of costs
Shareholders questioned the bank's absorption of millions in trading losses.
absorption of losses
Cost absorption helped the small bakery hold its bread prices through the winter.
The hotel chain's absorption of higher fuel charges protected its loyal travellers.
- soaking up
informal version used in business journalism
- pass-through
passing costs directly to customers instead of paying them
文法句型
absorption of [costs/losses]
用法筆記
Subject is normally a company, bank, or government body. Object (after 'of') is almost always negative — costs, losses, fees, taxes, charges. Common in business news and accounting reports.
4. the way a smaller company, region, or group is taken in by a larger one and beco
the way a smaller company, region, or group is taken in by a larger one and becomes part of it, often losing its separate identity.
The absorption of the local bus firm into the national operator cost many drivers their old uniforms.
absorption of X into Y
Workers feared the absorption of their small studio by the Hollywood giant.
absorption of X by Y
The 1990 absorption of East Germany into the West changed the country's economy overnight.
Many villagers resisted the absorption of their farming community into the growing city.
- takeover
more neutral; everyday business word for the same event
- assimilation
stresses the smaller group adopting the larger one's culture
- merger
suggests two equal parties; absorption suggests one swallowing the other
- separation
the smaller group breaking away rather than being taken in
文法句型
absorption of [smaller group] into [larger group]
用法筆記
The smaller party usually appears after 'of' and the larger one after 'into' or 'by'. Often carries a slight negative tone of identity being lost. Distinguish from sense 1 — here the things merging are organisations or groups, not substances.