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REFERENCE

absorbing

adj. · v.
US //əbˈzɔɹbɪŋ// UK //ɐbsˈɔːbɪŋ// ab·sorb·ing
  1. 1 very interesting (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    so interesting that you give it all your attention.

    fully engaging the mind or attention; engrossing.

    Example

    I found the documentary about deep-sea creatures absolutely absorbing.

    Example

    The novel provides an absorbing account of the city's history, weaving personal narratives into the broader political landscape.
  2. 2 taking something in (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    the act of soaking up liquid, information, or costs.

    the present participle of 'absorb', referring to the process of taking in or soaking up energy, liquid, or information.

    Example

    The sponge was absorbing all the spilled milk on the counter.

    Example

    By absorbing the smaller firm's debt, the corporation managed to secure a dominant position in the regional market without a hostile takeover.
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  1. 3 preventing exit (adj.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Math

    describing a state or process that things can enter but cannot leave.

    relating to a state or boundary that, once entered, cannot be exited; frequently used in Markov chains and statistical models.

    Example

    In this game, falling into the trap is an absorbing state because you cannot move again.

    Example

    The mathematician demonstrated that the Markov chain contained an absorbing state, ensuring that the process would eventually terminate at that specific value.

    Usage

    Often used to describe an 'absorbing state' in probability theory.
Origin

From absorb + -ing.

Word family

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