osmotically

os·mo·sis  (z-mss, s-)

n. pl. os·mo·ses (-sz)

1.

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.

2. A gradual, often unconscious process of assimilation or absorption: learned French by osmosis while residing in Paris for 15 years.

---

[From obsolete osmose, from earlier endosmose, from French : Greek endo-, endo- + Greek smos, thrust, push (from thein, to push).]

---

os·motic (-mtk) adj.

os·moti·cal·ly adv.

Thesaurus

Adv.

1.

osmotically - by means of osmosis