Printer Friendly
Dictionary, Encyclopedia and Thesaurus - The Free Dictionary
1,738,987,704 visitors served.
forum mailing list For webmasters
?
New: Language forums
Dictionary/
thesaurus
Medical
dictionary
Legal
dictionary
Financial
dictionary
Acronyms
 
Idioms
Encyclopedia
Wikipedia
encyclopedia
?

absorbed

   Also found in: Medical, Legal, Financial, Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.01 sec.
ab·sorb  (b-sôrb, -zôrb)
tr.v. ab·sorbed, ab·sorb·ing, ab·sorbs
1. To take (something) in through or as through pores or interstices.
2. To occupy the full attention, interest, or time of; engross. See Synonyms at monopolize.
3. To retain (radiation or sound, for example) wholly, without reflection or transmission.
4. To take in; assimilate: immigrants who were absorbed into the social mainstream.
5. To learn; acquire: "Matisse absorbed the lesson and added to it a new language of color" (Peter Plagen).
6. To receive (an impulse) without echo or recoil: a fabric that absorbs sound; a bumper that absorbs impact.
7. To assume or pay for (a cost or costs).
8. To endure; accommodate: couldn't absorb the additional hardships.
9. To use up; consume: The project has absorbed all of our department's resources.

[Middle English, to swallow up, from Old French absorber, from Latin absorbre : ab-, away; see ab-1 + sorbre, to suck.]

ab·sorba·bili·ty n.
ab·sorba·ble adj.
ab·sorbed·ly adv.
ab·sorber n.
ab·sorbing·ly adv.

absorbed [əbˈsɔːbd -ˈzɔːbd]
adj
engrossed; deeply interested
absorbedly  [əbˈsɔːbɪdlɪ -ˈzɔː-] adv
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Adj.1.absorbed - giving or marked by complete attention to; "that engrossed look or rapt delight"; "then wrapped in dreams"; "so intent on this fantastic...narrative that she hardly stirred"- Walter de la Mare; "rapt with wonder"; "wrapped in thought"
attentive - (often followed by `to') giving care or attention; "attentive to details"; "the nurse was attentive to her patient"; "an attentive suitor"
2.absorbed - retained without reflection; "the absorbed light intensity"
unreflected - (especially of incident sound or light) not turned back by physical reflection

absorbed
adjective
1. engrossed, lost, involved, fixed, concentrating, occupied, engaged, gripped, fascinated, caught up, intrigued, wrapped up, preoccupied, immersed, riveted, captivated, enthralled, rapt, up to your ears They were completely absorbed in each other.
2. digested, soaked up, devoured, assimilated, received, exhausted, incorporated, consumed, imbibed Cook until all the liquid is absorbed by the rice.
Translations
absorbed [əbˈzɔːrbd] adj (= engrossed) → absorbé(e)
to be absorbed in sth → être absorbé(e) par qch
to be absorbed in one's work → être absorbé(e) par son travail, être tout(e) entier/ière à son travail
to be absorbed in a book → être plongé(e) dans un livre
to be absorbed in doing sth → être absorbé(e) à faire qch
to be absorbed in each other → être fascinés l'un par l'autre


How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content.
?Page tools
Printer friendly
Cite / link
Email
Feedback
Add definition
? Mentioned in ? References in classic literature
 
There sat Magdalen, in an arm-chair before the long looking-glass, with all her hair let down over her shoulders; absorbed in the study of her part and comfortably arrayed in her morning wrapper, until it was time to dress for dinner.
Presently the figure of a young man separated itself from the rest, stept up on to the smooth road, and standing in the middle of it, in an absorbed attitude, began to make a movement with his hands as though winding string round a top.
The little river which turned sharply in its course, and was thus immediately lost to sight, seemed to have no exit from its prison, but to be absorbed by the deep green foliage of the trees to the east -- while in the opposite quarter (so it appeared to me as I lay at length and glanced upward) there poured down noiselessly and continuously into the valley, a rich golden and crimson waterfall from the sunset fountains of the sky.
 
Dictionary/thesaurus browser? ? Full browser
 
 
Dictionary, Thesaurus, and Translations
?

Disclaimer | Privacy policy | Feedback | Copyright © 2009 Farlex, Inc.
All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional. Terms of Use.