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1. Take in, also metaphorically
   "The sponge absorbs water well";
   - suck, imbibe, soak up, sop up, suck up, draw, take in, take up
    
2. (chemistry) become imbued
   "The liquids, light, and gases absorb"
    
3. Take up mentally
   "he absorbed the knowledge or beliefs of his tribe";
   - assimilate, ingest, take in
    
4. Take up, as of debts or payments
   "absorb the costs for something";
   - take over
    
5. Cause to become one with
   "The sales tax is absorbed into the state income tax"
    
6. Suck or take up or in
   "A black star absorbs all matter";
   - take in
    
7. Devote (oneself) fully to
   - steep, immerse, engulf, plunge, engross, soak up, ingulf [archaic]
    
8. Assimilate or take in
   "The immigrants were quickly absorbed into society"
    
9. Consume all of one's attention or time
   "Her interest in butterflies absorbs her completely";
   - engross, engage, occupy

Derived forms: absorbed, absorbing, absorbs

Type of: acquire, blend, center [US], centre [Brit, Cdn], coalesce, combine, commingle, concentrate, conflate, flux, focus, fund, fuse, immix, interest, invite, larn, learn, meld, merge, mix, pore, pore over, receive, rivet, sorb, take in, take up

Encyclopedia: Absorb