Absorb vs. Resorb — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on April 22, 2024
Absorb involves taking in substances, energy, or information, while resorb refers to the reabsorption of substances within an organism.
Difference Between Absorb and Resorb
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
bsorb is a process where materials like liquids, gases, or energy are taken in by substances through physical or chemical means, whereas resorb specifically denotes the process where an organism reabsorbs substances it had previously secreted or excreted.
In biology, to absorb means the intake of nutrients or chemicals across cellular membranes, while resorb often refers to the reclaiming of essential elements, such as bone tissue using minerals previously used in bone structure.
Absorb can also apply to abstract concepts such as knowledge or light, where these are taken in and utilized by an individual or system. On the other hand, resorb is used almost exclusively in physiological contexts, indicating a specialized biological function.
Products like sponges and towels are designed to absorb moisture, effectively drawing in and holding liquids. In contrast, the term resorb is not used in everyday objects but is reserved for biological processes.
The capability to absorb impacts various industries, including technology and environmental science, focusing on energy efficiency and pollution control. In contrast, resorb has implications primarily in healthcare and biological research, dealing with body processes and recovery.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
To take in or soak up
To take back into the body
Usage Context
General, wide-ranging
Specific, mostly biological
Examples
Sponges, educational material
Bone minerals, nutrients in the kidney
Implications
Environmental, educational, industrial
Medical, biological
Key Characteristics
Physical and chemical processes
Physiological and biological processes
Compare with Definitions
Absorb
To take in or soak up energy or liquid.
Plants absorb sunlight for photosynthesis.
Resorb
To break down bone or tissue and assimilate the materials again.
As we age, our bones resorb nutrients less efficiently.
Absorb
To integrate information or ideas.
She absorbs new languages quickly.
Resorb
To undergo or cause to undergo resorption.
After the extraction, the bone around the tooth began to resorb.
Absorb
To reduce the impact or intensity of sound or energy.
The curtains will absorb the loud sounds from the street.
Resorb
To reabsorb previously secreted or excreted substances.
The kidney can resorb glucose and salts.
Absorb
To take up attention completely.
The novel absorbed him for hours.
Resorb
To assimilate nutrients or chemicals back into an organism.
Plants resorb nutrients from decayed leaves.
Absorb
To assimilate substances into cells or tissues.
The skin can absorb certain medications.
Resorb
To withdraw or retract something.
The company decided to resorb its recent policy changes.
Absorb
Take in or soak up (energy or a liquid or other substance) by chemical or physical action
Buildings can be designed to absorb and retain heat
Steroids are absorbed into the bloodstream
Resorb
Absorb (something) again
The ability to resorb valuable solutes from the urine
Absorb
Take up the attention of (someone); interest greatly
She sat in an armchair, absorbed in a book
The work absorbed him and continued to make him happy
Resorb
To absorb again.
Absorb
To take (something) in through or as through pores or interstices.
Resorb
(Biology) To dissolve and assimilate (bone tissue, for example).
Absorb
To occupy the attention, interest, or time of; engross
The problem completely absorbed her.
Resorb
To undergo resorption.
Absorb
To take up or occupy (one's time or interest, for example).
Resorb
(transitive) To absorb (something) again.
Absorb
To retain (radiation or sound, for example) wholly, without reflection or transmission.
Resorb
(intransitive) To undergo resorption.
Absorb
To take in; assimilate
Immigrants who were absorbed into the social mainstream.
Resorb
To dissolve (bone, sinew, suture, etc.) and assimilate it.
Absorb
To learn; acquire
"Matisse absorbed the lesson and added to it a new language of color" (Peter Plagen).
Resorb
To swallow up.
Now lifted by the tide, and now resorbed.
Absorb
To receive (an impulse) without echo or recoil
A fabric that absorbs sound.
A bumper that absorbs impact.
Resorb
To absorb (something which has been secreted or exuded by the same organism).
Absorb
To assume or pay for (a cost or costs).
Resorb
Undergo resorption
Absorb
To endure; accommodate
Couldn't absorb the additional hardships.
Absorb
To use up; consume
The project has absorbed all of our department's resources.
Absorb
(transitive) To include so that it no longer has separate existence; to overwhelm; to cause to disappear as if by swallowing up; to incorporate; to assimilate; to take in and use up.
Absorb
To engulf, as in water; to swallow up.
Absorb
(transitive) To suck up; to drink in; to imbibe, like a sponge or as the lacteals of the body; to chemically take in.
Absorb
(intransitive) To be absorbed, or sucked in; to sink in.
The drops of water slowly absorbed into the dry sponge.
Absorb
To take in energy and convert it.
Heat, light, and electricity are absorbed in the substances into which they pass.
Absorb
In receiving a physical impact or vibration without recoil.
Absorb
In receiving sound energy without repercussion or echo.
Absorb
Taking in radiant energy and converting it to a different form of energy, like heat.
Absorb
(transitive) To engross or engage wholly; to occupy fully.
Absorb
(transitive) To occupy or consume time.
Absorb
(transitive) To assimilate mentally.
Absorb
To assume or pay for as part of a commercial transaction.
Absorb
(transitive) To defray the costs.
Absorb
(transitive) To accept or purchase in quantity.
Absorb
To swallow up; to engulf; to overwhelm; to cause to disappear as if by swallowing up; to use up; to include.
The large cities absorb the wealth and fashion.
Absorb
To suck up; to drink in; to imbibe; as a sponge or as the lacteals of the body.
Absorb
To engross or engage wholly; to occupy fully; as, absorbed in study or the pursuit of wealth.
Absorb
To take up by cohesive, chemical, or any molecular action, as when charcoal absorbs gases. So heat, light, and electricity are absorbed or taken up in the substances into which they pass.
That grave question which had begun to absorb the Christian mind - the marriage of the clergy.
Too long hath love engrossed Britannia's stage,And sunk to softness all our tragic rage.
Should not the sad occasion swallow upMy other cares?
And in destruction's riverEngulf and swallow those.
Absorb
Become imbued;
The liquids, light, and gases absorb
Absorb
Take up mentally;
He absorbed the knowledge or beliefs of his tribe
Absorb
Take up, as of debts or payments;
Absorb the costs for something
Absorb
Take in, also metaphorically;
The sponge absorbs water well
She drew strength from the minister's words
Absorb
Cause to become one with;
The sales tax is absorbed into the state income tax
Absorb
Suck or take up or in;
A black star absorbs all matter
Absorb
Engross (oneself) fully;
He immersed himself into his studies
Absorb
Assimilate or take in;
The immigrants were quickly absorbed into society
Absorb
Engage or engross wholly;
Her interest in butterflies absorbs her completely
Common Curiosities
What does it mean to absorb something?
Absorbing something means taking it in or soaking it up, like liquids, sounds, or information.
What is resorption in biology?
Resorption is the process by which an organism reabsorbs substances it previously secreted or excreted, such as bone tissue reabsorbing minerals.
Can absorb and resorb be used interchangeably?
No, while both involve uptake, absorb is a general term and resorb is specific to biological reuptake.
Can humans absorb sunlight like plants?
Humans cannot absorb sunlight for energy like plants do, but they do absorb sunlight to produce vitamin D.
What are common applications of absorption in industry?
Common applications include soundproofing, pollutant removal, and energy storage.
Why is resorption important for bone health?
Bone resorption helps regulate calcium levels and remodels bone tissue, maintaining strength and health.
How does a sponge absorb water?
A sponge absorbs water by allowing the liquid to fill its porous structure through capillary action.
How does the kidney resorb substances?
The kidney resorbs substances by filtering blood and reabsorbing necessary nutrients and minerals back into the bloodstream.
What materials are best for absorbing sound?
Materials that are porous and fibrous, such as foam and thick curtains, are effective at absorbing sound.
Is it possible to absorb too much information?
Yes, it is possible to absorb too much information.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
