able to absorb
a substance that absorbs
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
ab•sorb•ent /æbˈsɔrbənt, -ˈzɔr-/USA pronunciation
adj.
n. [countable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- capable of absorbing:absorbent bandages.
n. [countable]
- a substance that absorbs.
ab•sorb•ent
(ab sôr′bənt, -zôr′-),USA pronunciation adj.
n.
ab•sorb′en•cy, n.
- capable of absorbing heat, light, moisture, etc.;
tending to absorb.
n.
- something that absorbs:Tons of high-powered absorbents were needed to clean up the oil spill.
- Latin absorbent- (stem of absorbēns, present participle of absorbēre). See absorb, -ent
- 1710–20
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
'absorbent' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
absorbent cotton
- absorbing well
- absorptive
- bath towel
- bibulous
- blot
- blotting paper
- cat litter
- charcoal
- cleansing tissue
- cotton batting
- cotton wool
- desorb
- diaper
- diatomite
- dope
- dust mop
- dustcloth
- dynamite
- fuller's earth
- gobo
- handkerchief
- hexamethylenetetramine
- huckaback
- kaolin
- lint
- magnesium silicate
- mop
- pad
- paint roller
- pledget
- polyacrylamide
- roller
- sanitary napkin
- sanitary towel
- soakers
- sponge
- spongy
- superabsorbent
- swab
- sweat
- sweat socks
- sweatpants
- sweatshirt
- tent
- tissue
- toilet paper
- towel
- towelling
- wadding