Pronunciation: [ɐbsˈɔːpʃən] (IPA) 
The word "absorption" is spelled with a silent "p" and pronounced /əbˈsɔːpʃən/ according to the IPA phonetic transcription. The first syllable is pronounced with a schwa sound /ə/ followed by a "b" sound, with the following "p" being silent. The second syllable is pronounced with a long "o" sound /ɔː/ followed by a "p" sound and a "sh" sound /ʃ/. The final syllable is pronounced with a schwa sound /ə/ followed by an "n" sound.
Absorption refers to the process of taking in or soaking up something, be it a substance, energy, or information. It involves the assimilation and retention of the absorbed material by another substance or entity. The term can be applied to various contexts, including physical, chemical, biological, and psychological.
In the physical sense, absorption occurs when one substance penetrates and saturates another substance. For example, when a sponge absorbs water, it takes in and retains the liquid within its structure. Similarly, in chemistry, absorption refers to the process by which one substance is imbibed by another substance, often resulting in a change in the physical or chemical properties.
Biologically, absorption pertains to the uptake and incorporation of nutrients, gases, or other substances by living organisms. For instance, in human digestion, the small intestine absorbs essential nutrients from food to be utilized by the body.
In cognitive psychology, absorption encompasses the mental state of complete focus and engagement with an activity or stimulus. When absorbed, individuals become fully engrossed in an experience, often losing track of time and exhibiting heightened attention and immersion.
Overall, absorption refers to the process of taking in or incorporating one substance or information into another, leading to a specific effect or change.
1. The taking up of gases by liquid or solid substances, or of liquids by solids. 2. The taking into the tissues, through the medium of the lymphatics or blood-vessels, of any material in suitable form. 3. The extinction of light or any of its component rays by black or colored objects. 4. The arrest of the rays of radiant heat, the temperature of the absorbing body being slowly raised. 5. The neutralization of an acid.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "absorption" has Latin roots. It is derived from the Latin word "absorbere", which is a combination of the prefix "ab-" meaning "away" or "from", and the verb "sorbeo" meaning "to suck in" or "to swallow up". The word entered English in the early 15th century and originally referred to the process of swallowing up or taking in something completely. It later developed the specific sense of the act or process of being absorbed or assimilated into something else.
