1. (

• absorption ,
• soaking_up

) (chemistry) a process in which one substance permeates another; a fluid permeates or is dissolved by a liquid or solid ;

2. (

• absorption ,

) (physics) the process in which incident radiated energy is retained without reflection or transmission on passing through a medium; "the absorption of photons by atoms or molecules" ;

3. (

• assimilation ,
• absorption ,

) the social process of absorbing one cultural group into harmony with another ;

4. (

• assimilation ,
• absorption ,

) the process of absorbing nutrients into the body after digestion ;

5. (

• concentration ,
• engrossment ,
• absorption ,
• immersion

) complete attention; intense mental effort ;

6. (

• preoccupation ,
• preoccupancy ,
• absorption ,
• engrossment

) the mental state of being preoccupied by something ;