absorbent

Definitions

1. 1.Anything which absorbs. The ocean, itself a bad absorbent of heat. Darwin.
2. 2.(Med.) Any substance which absorbs and neutralizes acid fluid in the stomach and bowels, as magnesia, chalk, etc.; also a substance e. g., iodine) which acts on the absorbent vessels so as to reduce enlarged and indurated parts.
3. 3.pl. (Physiol.) The vessels by which the processes of absorption are carried on, as the lymphatics in animals, the extremities of the roots in plants.

Source: Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 edition (public domain, via GCIDE / Project Gutenberg).

Related questions

• What does "absorbent" mean?

Reverse-dictionary questions

Definition-first questions whose answer is absorbent.

• What is anything which absorbs. The ocean, itself a bad absorbent of heat. Darwin called?
• What is pl. (Physiol.) The vessels by which the processes of absorption are carried on, as the lymphatics in animals, the extremities of the roots in plants called?