adsorb

verb

ad·​sorb ad-ˈsȯrb How to pronounce adsorb (audio) -ˈzȯrb How to pronounce adsorb (audio)
adsorbed; adsorbing; adsorbs

transitive verb

: to take up and hold by adsorption
adsorbable adjective
adsorber
ad-ˈsȯr-bər How to pronounce adsorb (audio)
-ˈzȯr-
noun

Examples of adsorb in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web These little gunk-suckers are powered by salicylic acid to penetrate pimples and a hydrocolloid barrier to adsorb all the nasty stuff. Cai Cramer, Peoplemag, 26 Oct. 2023 Short-path distillation utilizes heat and vacuum pressure to separate different compounds based on their boiling points, while column chromatography employs a stationary phase material that selectively adsorbs impurities. Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 1 Aug. 2023 Silica gel packets tucked into pockets and between layers of fabrics can adsorb water before anything is ruined. Bridget Reed Morawski, Popular Science, 1 June 2023 Try using a slew of silica gel packets to adsorb the water and bring the device back from its watery doom. Bridget Reed Morawski, Popular Science, 1 June 2023 In most cases, microbes hold fast to the nearest surface under energy limitation, perhaps taking advantage of the tendency of all molecules – potential food included – to adsorb to solid surfaces. Jeffrey Marlow, Discover Magazine, 12 Nov. 2015 Biochar has the ability to adsorb—the process of holding tiny particles (adsorbates) on the surface of larger solid materials (adsorbents)—pollutants and organic substances present in water because of its carbon-rich particles and textual features. Amin Mirkouei, Forbes, 28 June 2021 Some of it is just loosely attached to rock surfaces; this is especially true of sandy, loose material, which has more surface area to adsorb the gas. John Timmer, Ars Technica, 31 July 2018 Try It: Activated Charcoal Fart Filtering Adept at adsorbing foul and toxic smells from gases and liquids, activated charcoal has some applications for reducing body odor. Erin Levi, Good Housekeeping, 25 Mar. 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'adsorb.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

back-formation from adsorption

First Known Use

1809, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of adsorb was in 1809

Dictionary Entries Near adsorb

Cite this Entry

“Adsorb.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/adsorb. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

adsorb

verb
ad·​sorb ad-ˈsȯrb How to pronounce adsorb (audio) -ˈzȯrb How to pronounce adsorb (audio)
: to take up and hold or to become taken up by adsorption

Medical Definition

adsorb

transitive verb
: to take up and hold by adsorption
adsorbability noun
plural adsorbabilities
adsorbable adjective
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