/ əbˈsɔːpʃn; -ˈzɔːp-; NAmE -ˈsɔːrp-; -ˈzɔːrp-/ noun [ U ]
1.
the process of a liquid, gas or other substance being taken in :
Vitamin D is necessary to aid the absorption of calcium from food.
2.
the process of a smaller group, country, etc. becoming part of a larger group or country :
the absorption of immigrants into the host country
3.
absorption (in sth) the fact of sb being very interested in sth so that it takes all their attention :
His work suffered because of his total absorption in sport.
••
WORD ORIGIN
late 16th cent. (in the sense the swallowing up of something ): from Latin absorptio(n-) , from absorbere swallow up, from ab- from + sorbere suck in.