Copyright © Philip M. Parker, INSEAD. Terms of Use.

Absorbing

Definition: Absorbing

Absorbing

Adjective

1. Capable of arousing and holding the attention; "a fascinating story".

Source: WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
 

Date "absorbing" was first used in popular English literature: sometime before 1615. (references)

 

Synonyms: Absorbing

Synonyms: engrossing (adj), fascinating (adj), gripping (adj), riveting (adj). (additional references)

Top     

Synonyms within Context: Absorbing

ContextSynonyms within Context (source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus).

Excitation

Exciting, absorbing, riveting, distracting; Verb: impressive, warm, glowing, fervid, swelling, imposing, spirit-stirring, thrilling; high-wrought; soul-stirring, soul-subduing; heart-stirring, heart-swelling, heart-thrilling; agonizing; (painful); telling, sensational, hysterical; overpowering, overwhelming; more than flesh and blood can bear; yellow.

Feeling

Pervading, penetrating, absorbing; rabid, raving, feverish, fanatical, hysterical; impetuous; (excitable).

Requirement

Urgent, exigent, pressing, instant, crying, absorbing.

Source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus.

Top     

Crosswords: Absorbing

English words defined with "absorbing": absorption, Absorption spectrum, assimilationblack body, blackbodycarbon monoxide poisoning, coral rootDeliquesce, deliquescent, Deliquiatefull radiatorharmoniously, Hygrometrical, hygroscopic, Hygroscopicitynonabsorbent, nonabsorptiveOcclusion of gasesphotoconduction, photoconductivityrepellent, resistantSpongioleunbend. (references)
Specialty definitions using "absorbing": absorbance, absorber plate, absorbing region, absorption capacity, absorption line, absorption spectra, absorption spectru, absorptive capacity, absorptive power, aquicludeBiological shield, boric acid solution, braced bladechlorofluorocarbons, concentration factor, concentration ratio,CR, CONTACT PROCESS, counterflow, Crop insurancedepletion of bases, desaturation, DESULFURIZER OPERATOR, Doppler broadening, dust wetting agentfiltered light, focused gridgas desulphurizer, GAS-MASK INSPECTOR, generalized transmission functionHominyline width, local indicator plant, lymphoid interstitial pneumonitisoptical thicknessRadiation shielding, Radiative Cooling, radioactive paint, recharging basinselective absorption, self-luminous paint, snarf down, soakaway, solar pond, sphagnum peat, stayed blade, Sunscreening Agents, swelling pressuretorque rodWater Wall. (references)
Etymologies containing "absorbing": Absorb. (references)

Top     

Modern Usage: Absorbing

DomainUsage

Movie/TV Titles

An Absorbing Tale (1909)

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

Top     

Commercial Usage: Absorbing

DomainTitle

Books

  • Absorbing Air Force Fighter Pilots: Parameters, Problems, and Policy Options (reference)

  • Absorbing Perfections: Kabbalah and Interpretation (reference)

  • Design to Impact Absorbing Members for Aluminum Structured Vehicles/900796 (reference)

  • Infrared Absorbing Dyes (Topics in Applied Chemistry) (reference)

  • Tales of Maritime Maine: The Vanished Years of the Maine Coast Brought to Life in Three Absorbing Tales (reference)

    (more book examples)

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

Top     

Photo Album: Absorbing

ThumbnailDescription & Credit

Girl worker at lunch also absorbing California sunshine, Douglas Aircraft Company, Long Beach, Calif. Credit: Library of Congress.

Source: pictures compiled by the editor from various references; see picture credits.

Top     

Digital Photo Gallery: Absorbing
 

"Sunset Leaves" by Elisabeth Howe
Commentary: "Autumn leaves absorbing the afternoon sunlight."

Source: photographs selected by the editor, with permission from the photographers.

Top     

Familiar Quotations: Absorbing

AuthorQuotation

Albert Einstein

When I examined myself and my methods of thought, I came to the conclusion that the gift of fantasy has meant more to me than my talent for absorbing positive knowledge.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

Top     

Non-Fiction Usage: Absorbing

SubjectTopicQuote

Health

Discs protect the spine by absorbing shock, but they tend to degenerate over time and may sometimes rupture. (references)

Because their intestines are not absorbing enough nutrients, they may need to receive intravenous nutrition supplements. (references)

Even in carefully selected patients--those with small, contracted bladders--pain, frequency, and urgency may remain or return after surgery, and the patient may have additional problems with infections in the new bladder and difficulty absorbing nutrients from the shortened intestine. (references)

Business

In Sub-Sahara Africa, the Ivoirian market remains the most important one after Nigeria and South Africa, absorbing other neighboring countries’ unsatisfied supply, especially for used automobiles. (references)

With advantages such as energy efficiency, ease of application, insulating properties, durability and sound absorbing, organic materials are often required in accordance with the environmental protection which has become an important trend in China, and given much weight by the Chinese government. (references)

However, before opting to install an international “800” number it is advisable to compare the estimated costs of incoming international calls with the cost of using an in-country fulfillment house, which may actually be cheaper in the long run than absorbing the cost of international telephone calls. (references)

Economic History

Chile

Companies have been merging or absorbing each other, leaving a smaller number of companies competing fiercely. (references)

Poland

Experts estimate that the Polish car market is capable of absorbing some 500,000-600,000 passenger cars annually. (references)

Hong Kong

China is Hong Kong's largest trading partner, absorbing one-third of Hong Kong's total exports of US$201.6 billion. (references)

Political Economy

RUSSIA

The budget surplus has been the major factor in this regard, absorbing the monetary liquidity created by the huge increase in foreign reserves. (references)

Source: compiled by the editor from ICON Group International, Inc.; see credits.

Top     

Usage Frequency: Absorbing

"Absorbing" is generally used as a lexical verb (-ing form) -- approximately 86.27% of the time. "Absorbing" is used about 284 times out of a sample of 100 million words spoken or written in English. Its rank is based on over 700,000 words used in the English language. Some parts-of-speech are not covered due to the samples used by the British National Corpus. (note: percents less than one-hundredth of one percent have been omitted)
Parts of SpeechPercentUsage per
100 Million Words
Rank in English
Lexical Verb (-ing form)86.27%24519,065
Adjective (general or positive)13.03%3756,631
Noun (singular)0.7%2245,945
                    Total100.00%284N/A

Source: compiled by the editor from several corpora; see credits.

Top     

Expressions: Absorbing

Expressions using "absorbing": absorbing barrier absorbing clamp absorbing plate absorbing power absorbing region absorbing scenery absorbing shock absorbing state absorbing surface absorbing volume absorbing well sound absorbing shields. Additional references.

Hypenated Usage

Ending with "absorbing": all-absorbing, shock-absorbing.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

Top     

Frequency of Internet Keywords: Absorbing

The following statistics estimate the number of searches per day across the major English-language search engines as identified by various trade publications. Hyperlinks lead to commercial use of the expression at Amazon.com.
 
ExpressionFrequency
per Day
ExpressionFrequency
per Day

absorbing man

62

absorbing impact play surface

3

absorbing crystal water

12

absorbing hulk man movie

3

radar absorbing material

10

absorbing paint radar

3

absorbing hulk man

9

absorbing hulk man vs

3

absorbing caster shock

9

absorbing material

2

absorbing b glass h heat photo video

8

absorbing insoles shock

2

water absorbing polymer

7

absorbing clean clear oil sheet

2

shock absorbing lanyards

6

absorbing banner david man

2

sound absorbing material

5

absorbing infrared material

2

absorbing foam sound

4

absorbing interlayer membrane stress

2

shock absorbing

4

absorbing man marvel

2

absorbing oil sheet

3

absorbing material shock

2

absorbing boat seat shock

3

absorbing coating radar

2

absorbing fabric moisture polyester

3
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

Top     

Modern Translation: Absorbing

Language Translations for "absorbing"; alternative meanings/domain in parentheses.

Albanian

  

adhurueshëm (charming, fascinating, lovely), thithës (absorbent, sucking, suction, suctorial), tërheqës (absorptive, adorable, alluring, appealing, attractable, attractive, catchy, charismatic, comely, cunning, cute, drawer, dreamy, engaging, engrossing, enticing, fetching, interesting, inviting, jolly, likable, likeable, nice, personable, pleasing, pretty, showy, sightly, winsome), që të bën për vete, përthithës (absorber). (various references)

   

Arabic 

  

‏ممتع جدا (tasty), ‏مستحوذ عليه, ‏مستغرق للإنتباه. (various references)

   

Bulgarian 

  

увлекателен (engrossing, enthralling, exciting, interesting, readable), много интересен (engrossing, juicy), поглъщащ (absorbent), поглъщателен, попиващ (absorbent). (various references)

   

Chinese 

  

吸收 (ABS, Absorb, Absorbed, Absorption, assimilation, Recruited, Recruiting, sorb, sorbed). (various references)

   

Czech

  

zabírající všechen èas, poutavý (arresting, attractive, catchy, exciting, griping, gripping, intriguing, thrilling, winning). (various references)

   

Danish

  

absorptionsmiddel (absorbent, absorbent solution, absorbing solution), absorber plade (absorber plate, absorbing plate, absorbing surface), absorberbelægning (absorbing surface), absorberende barriere (absorbing barrier), absorberende lag (absorbing layer, absorption layers), absorberende måletang (absorbing clamp), absorberende materiale (absorbing material), absorberende medium (absorbing medium, dissipative medium), absorberende område (absorbing region), absorberende opløsning (absorbent, absorbent solution, absorbing solution), absorberende overflade (absorber plate, absorbing plate, absorbing surface), absorberende tilstand (absorbing barrier, absorbing state), absorberoverflade (absorbing surface), absorbator plade (absorber plate, absorbing plate, absorbing surface), absorptionsevne (absorbing power, absorptive power, absorptivity), absorbtionsvolumen (absorbing volume), vibrationsdæmpning (shock absorbing, vibration dampening, vibration deadening), balanceaksel til stiftgang med plateau til stoedsikring (balance staff for pin pallet escapement and roller for shock absorbing device), lodret dræn (absorbing well, well drain), lydabsorberende (sound absorbing, sound deadening, sound proof), lydabsorberende materialer (sound absorbing materials, sound absorptive materials, sound-proof materials), lyddaempende (sound absorbing, sound deadening, sound proof), lydisolerende materialer (sound absorbing materials, sound absorptive materials, sound-proof materials), lysabsorberende skærm (light absorbing display), skrueloes komplet balance (timed annular balance for shock absorbing device), støddæmpende (shock absorbing), støjskærme (anti-noise barriers, sound absorbing shields, sound resistant screens), vandholdende evne (water absorption capacity, water-absorbing capacity), vandret dræn (absorbing well, well drain). (various references)

   

Dutch

  

fascinerend (fascinating), boeiend (fascinating), betoverend (delightful, enchanting, fascinating, lovely). (various references)

   

Esperanto

  

interesega, fascina (fascinating). (various references)

   

Finnish

  

absorptiopinta (absorbing surface), absorboiva tila (absorbing barrier, absorbing state), absorboiva reuna (absorbing barrier), absorboiva pinnoite (absorbing coating), absorboiva kehys (absorbing frame), absorboiva alue (absorbing region), absorbenttiliuos (absorbent, absorbent solution, absorbing solution), vedenimemiskyky (water absorption capacity, water-absorbing capacity), vedenimemiskapasiteetti (water absorption capacity, water-absorbing capacity), vedenabsorbointikyky (water absorption capacity, water-absorbing capacity), valoa absorboiva näyttö (light absorbing display), suurtaajuusvirtapihti (absorbing clamp), melueste (anti-noise barriers, sound absorbing shields, sound resistant screens), iskunvaimentava (shock absorbing). (various references)

   

French

  

absorbant (absorbent), passionnant, captivant. (various references)

   

German

  

aufsaugend (absorbent, imbibing, sponging). (various references)

   

Greek 

  

πολύ ενδιαφέρων (most interesting, very interesting), απορρόφηση (absorption, aspiration, engrossment, enhancement, immersion, suction), απορροφητικόσ (absorbent, absorptive, bibulous, suction). (various references)

   

Hawaiian

  

adhurueshëm (charming, fascinating, lovely). (various references)

   

Hebrew 

  

מענין (interesting), מרתק (binding, connecting, enthralling, exciting, gripping, mooring berth, spectacular, thrilling), הבלעה (assimilating, insertion, inset, slurring over). (various references)

   

Hungarian

  

figyelmet lekötő (engrossing), felszívó (absorbent, absorptive, bibulous), elnyelő (occlusive), elmélyülést igénylő, abszorpciós, abszorbens (bibulous), abszorbeáló (occlusive). (various references)

   

Indonesian

  

syur (exciting, sexually arousing), sangat memikat, mengasyikkan (engross, fascinate, preoccupy). (various references)

   

Italian

  

avvincente (charming, compelling, endearing, engaging, engrossingly, fascinating, riveting), assorbente, assorbendo, assorbente (absorbant, absorbent, absorptive), interesante (interesting, jucystory). (various references)

   

Japanese Kanji 

  

興味津々 (of absorbing interest, of great interest, very interesting). (various references)

   

Japanese Katakana 

  

きゅうしつ (imperial family, moisture absorbing, palace), きゅうしゅうりょく (absorbing power), きょうみしんしん (of absorbing interest, of great interest, very interesting). (various references)

   

Korean 

  

흡수 (Absorption). (various references)

   

Manx

  

troggalagh (communicable, contractible, elevating, exhilarating, infectious, raising; builder), sooagh (absorbent, aspiratory, juicy, sappy, succulent, suctorial), maanagh, jioleagh (absorbent, sucking). (various references)

   

Pig Latin

  

absorbingay.(various references)

   

Portuguese

  

absorver (absorb, adsorb, assimilate, drink, engorge, engross, imbibe, impregnate, occlude, occupy, sip, soak, soak up, swallow), absorvente (adsorbent, adsorbing, bibulous, engrossing, overmastering, spongy), absorção (absorption, adsorption, aspiration, input), que atrai (alluring, catching, seductive), infeccioso (catching, contagious, infective, stunner, taking), fascinante (charming, enchanting, fascinating, glamorous, glamourous, lovely, witching), contagioso (catching, communicable, infective, pestilent, pestilential, stunner, taking), comunicativo (catching, chummy, communicable, communicative, expansive, sociable). (various references)

   

Romanian

  

antrenament (drill, practice, spar, training, workout), acaparator (accumulator, acquisitive, buyer-up, covetous, engrossing, food hoarder, forestalling, grabber, grasping, greedy, money making, money-grabbing, monopolizer, predatory), acaparat (grasping, greedy), absorbit (absorbedly, absorbent, engrossing, rapt, sucking-in), absorbire (absorption, assimilation, engrossment, suck, suction), absorbant (absorbent, absorptive, engrossing), captivant (captivating, charming, engaging, engrossing, exciting, fascinating, gripping, thrilling). (various references)

   

Russian 

  

увлекательный (engrossing, enthralling, fascinating), впитывающий (absorptive, sorbing), амортизирующий, поглощающий (absorbent, absorptive), поглощать абсорбция абсорбирующий. (various references)

   

Serbo-Croatian

  

apsorpcioni. (various references)

   

Spanish

  

absorbente (absorbant, absorbent, absorber, absorptive, bibulous, engrossing). (various references)

   

Swedish

  

absorberande (absorbent). (various references)

   

Turkish

  

sürükleyici (fastmoving, fluent, un-put-downable), ilginç (amazing, curious, engrossing, exciting, far out, fastmoving, gripping, interesting, juicy, kooky, picturesque, quaint, quirky, taking), ilgi çekici (attractive, challenging, interesting, intriguing), emici (absorbent, absorptive, adsorbent, bibulous, sucking). (various references)

   

Ukrainian

  

звабливий (alluring), зм'якшуючий, захоплюючий (admirable, breath-taking, catching, catchy, engrossing, entrancing, exciting, intriguing, spectacular), захопливий (purple), амортизуючий, абсорбція (occlusion), поглинальний (absorptive). (various references)

   

Vietnamese 

  

làm say sưa, làm say mê (bewitching, charming, fascinating, fetching, ravishing, transporting, witching), hấp dẫn (arresting, arrestingly, attractive, catchy, gravitational, gravitative, intriguing, inviting, nutty, taking, winningly, winsome). (various references)

Source: compiled by the editor from various translation references.

Top     

Derivations & Misspellings: Absorbing

Derivations

Words beginning with "absorbing": absorbingly. (additional references)

Words ending with "absorbing": reabsorbing. (additional references)


Misspellings

"Absorbing" is suggested in spellcheckers for the following: aborbing, absorting. (additional references)

Source: compiled by the editor, based on several corpora (additional references).

Top     

Rhyming with "Absorbing"

# of Phoneme MatchesPronunciationWord(s) rhyming with "absorbing" (pronounced ubzô"rbing)
3-b i ngbobbing, bribing, clubbing, curbing, dabbing, describing, disturbing, drubbing, dubbing, ebbing, gabbing, grabbing, hobbing, hobnobbing, jabbing, lobbing, nabbing, prescribing, probing, ribbing, robbing, rubbing, scrubbing, snubbing, sobbing, stabbing, subbing, subscribing, tabbing, throbbing, transcribing, tubing, webbing.

Source: compiled by the editor (additional references); see credits.

Top     

Anagrams: Absorbing

Scrabble® Enable2K-Verified Anagrams

Words within the letters "a-b-b-g-i-n-o-r-s"

-1 letter: rabbonis.

-2 letters: bagnios, barbing, barongs, borings, brogans, gabbros, gabions, gibbons, origans, rabbins, rabboni, ribbons, robbing, robbins, sabbing, sabring, signora, soaring, sobbing, sorbing.

-3 letters: absorb, argons, arsino, bagnio, bairns, baring, barong, barons, basing, basion, bingos, biogas, bogans, bonsai, boring, brains, brings, brogan, gabbro, gabion, gibbon, gibson, girons, gobans, grains, grison, groans, groins, isobar, nabobs.

 Words containing the letters "a-b-b-g-i-n-o-r-s"
 

+2 letters: absorbingly, reabsorbing.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

SCRABBLE® is a registered trademark. All intellectual property rights in and to the game are owned in the U.S.A and Canada by Hasbro Inc., and throughout the rest of the world by J.W. Spear & Sons Limited of Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, a subsidiary of Mattel Inc. Mattel and Spear are not affiliated with Hasbro.

Top     



INDEX

1. Definition
2. Synonyms
3. Crosswords
4. Usage: Modern
5. Usage: Commercial
6. Images: Photo Album
7. Images: Digital Art
8. Quotations: Familiar
9. Quotations: Non-fiction
10. Usage Frequency
11. Expressions
12. Expressions: Internet
13. Translations: Modern
14. Derivations
15. Rhymes
16. Anagrams
17. Bibliography


  

Copyright © Philip M. Parker, INSEAD. Terms of Use.