* * *
Universalium. 2010.
adsorb — ad*sorb v. t. to attract and bind (molecules of a substance in a fluid) so as to form a thin layer on the surface, by non electrostatic forces; to bind by adsorption. Distinguished from {absorb}, in which the foreign substance penetrates the body … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
adsorb — (v.) 1882, transitive (intransitive use attested from 1919), back formation from adsorption (1882), coined in German from AD (Cf. ad ) + sorption, abstracted from absorption. See ABSORB (Cf. absorb). Related: Adsorbent; adsorption … Etymology dictionary
adsorb — ► VERB ▪ (of a solid) hold (molecules of a gas, liquid, or dissolved substance) in a layer on its surface. DERIVATIVES adsorbable adjective adsorption noun adsorptive adjective … English terms dictionary
adsorb — [ad sôrb′, adzôrb′] vt. [< AD + L sorbere: see ABSORB] to collect (a gas, liquid, or dissolved substance) in condensed form on a surface adsorbable adj … English World dictionary
adsorb — UK [ædˈzɔː(r)b] / US [ædˈzɔrb] verb [transitive] Word forms adsorb : present tense I/you/we/they adsorb he/she/it adsorbs present participle adsorbing past tense adsorbed past participle adsorbed science if a solid substance adsorbs a liquid or… … English dictionary
adsorb — Describes what happens when a molecule from a fluid phase (gas or liquid) lands on the surface of a solid and stays, if only for a short while. Adsorb is different from absorb … Petroleum refining glossary
adsorb — ad•sorb [[t]ædˈsɔrb, ˈzɔrb[/t]] v. t. chem. to hold (a gas, liquid, or dissolved substance) on a surface in a condensed layer: Charcoal will adsorb gases[/ex] • Etymology: 1880–85; ad + (ab) sorb ad•sorb′a•ble, adj. ad•sorb a•bil′i•ty, n.… … From formal English to slang
adsorb — verb Etymology: ad + absorb Date: 1868 transitive verb to take up and hold by adsorption intransitive verb to become adsorbed • adsorbable adjective • adsorber noun … New Collegiate Dictionary
adsorb — verb To accumulate on a surface, by adsorption See Also: absorb … Wiktionary
adsorb — To take up by adsorption. [L. ad, to, + sorbeo, to suck in] * * * ad·sorb ad sȯ(ə)rb, zȯ(ə)rb vt to take up and hold by adsorption vi to become adsorbed ad·sorb·abil·i·ty .sȯr bə bil ət ē, .zȯr n, pl ties ad·sorb·able … Medical dictionary
