imbibition

im·bi·bi·tion

noun \ˌim-bə-ˈbish-ən\

Definition of IMBIBITION

: the action or process of assimilating, taking into solution, or taking in liquid; especially : the taking up of fluid by a colloidal system resulting in swelling

—im·bibe \im-ˈbīb\ verb, im·bibed im·bib·ing