---
title: absorb — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «absorb» in the school dictionary: To absorb a liquid, gas or heat is to take it in, as a sponge takes in water. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# absorb

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** sponge, you, force, Paper towels, Black clothes, Plant roots · **What happens:** absorb, be, take, understand, notice, do · **To what, where:** liquid, water, information, something, it, nothing

<!-- .vabout -->
«absorb» in the school dictionary: its 4 meanings for a pupil and its 9 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [absorb in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/absorb.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To absorb a liquid, gas or heat is to take it in, as a sponge takes in water.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:absorb:m1:1
# text = To absorb a liquid, gas or heat is to take it in, as a sponge takes in water.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	absorb	absorb	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	advcl	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	liquid	liquid	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	gas	gas	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	heat	heat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	take	take	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
12	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	obj	_	_
13	in	in	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
15	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	18	mark	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	sponge	sponge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	nsubj	_	_
18	takes	take	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	parataxis	_	_
19	in	in	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
20	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **absorb** | to-infinitive |  | a liquid and gas or heat |  |  |  |  | vn absorb-39.8 «NP V NP»: agent=Goal liquid=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | take *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **take** | present | a sponge |  |  | water |  |  | vn fit-54.3 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent in water=Location |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To absorb information is to learn it and understand it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:absorb:m2:1
# text = To absorb information is to learn it and understand it.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	absorb	absorb	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	advcl	_	_
3	information	information	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	learn	learn	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	understand	understand	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
10	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **absorb** | to-infinitive |  | information |  |  |  |  | vn absorb-39.8 «NP V NP»: agent=Goal information=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | learn *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **understand** | infinitive |  | information |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Experiencer it=Stimulus |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To be absorbed in something is to be so interested in it that you notice nothing else.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:absorb:m3:1
# text = To be absorbed in something is to be so interested in it that you notice nothing else.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	3	mark	_	_
2	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	absorbed	absorb	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	10	advcl	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	3	obl	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
8	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	cop	_	_
9	so	so	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	interested	interested	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
11	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	obl	_	_
13	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	15	mark	_	_
14	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	15	nsubj	_	_
15	notice	notice	VERB	VBP	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	advcl	_	_
16	nothing	nothing	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	15	obj	_	_
17	else	else	ADV	RB	_	16	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **absorb** | to-infinitive · passive |  |  |  | something |  |  | vn absorb-39.8 «NP V NP» |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  | it |  | interested *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **notice** | present | you | nothing |  |  |  |  | vn see-30.1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Experiencer nothing=Stimulus |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To absorb a shock or blow is to take its force so it does less harm.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:absorb:m4:1
# text = To absorb a shock or blow is to take its force so it does less harm.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	absorb	absorb	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	advcl	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	shock	shock	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	blow	blow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	take	take	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
11	force	force	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	_
12	so	so	SCONJ	IN	_	14	mark	_	_
13	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
14	does	do	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	advcl	_	_
15	less	less	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	16	amod	_	_
16	harm	harm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **absorb** | to-infinitive |  | a shock or blow |  |  |  |  | vn absorb-39.8 «NP V NP»: agent=Goal shock=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | take *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **do** | present | force | less harm |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent harm=Eventuality |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A sponge absorbs water.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:absorb:x1:1
# text = A sponge absorbs water.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	sponge	sponge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	absorbs	absorb	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **absorb** | present | a sponge | water |  |  |  |  | vn absorb-39.8 «NP V NP»: agent=Goal water=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Paper towels absorb spills.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:absorb:x2:1
# text = Paper towels absorb spills.
1	Paper	paper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	towels	towel	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	absorb	absorb	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	spills	spill	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **absorb** | present | Paper towels | spills |  |  |  |  | vn absorb-39.8 «NP V NP»: agent=Goal spill=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Black clothes absorb more heat from the Sun.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:absorb:x3:1
# text = Black clothes absorb more heat from the Sun.
1	Black	black	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	clothes	clothes	NOUN	NNS	Number=Ptan	3	nsubj	_	_
3	absorb	absorb	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	5	amod	_	_
5	heat	heat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	from	from	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	Sun.	Sunday	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **absorb** | present | Black clothes | more heat |  |  | sunday |  | vn absorb-39.8 «NP V NP»: agent=Goal heat=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Plant roots absorb water from the soil.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:absorb:x4:1
# text = Plant roots absorb water from the soil.
1	Plant	plant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	roots	root	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	absorb	absorb	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	from	from	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	soil	soil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **absorb** | present | Plant roots | water |  | the soil |  |  | vn absorb-39.8 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Goal water=Theme from soil=Source |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She was so absorbed in her book that she didn't hear me.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:absorb:x5:1
# text = She was so absorbed in her book that she didn't hear me.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
3	so	so	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	absorbed	absorb	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	book	book	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
8	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
9	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
10	did	do	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	12	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	12	advmod	_	_
12	hear	hear	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	advcl	_	_
13	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **absorb** | past · passive |  | She |  | her book |  |  | vn absorb-39.8 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |
| 2 | **not** **hear** | past · do-support | she | me |  |  |  |  | vn see-30.1-1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Experiencer i=Stimulus |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A bike helmet absorbs the force of a fall.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:absorb:x6:1
# text = A bike helmet absorbs the force of a fall.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	bike	bike	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	helmet	helmet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	absorbs	absorb	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	force	force	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	fall	fall	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **absorb** | present | a bike helmet | the force of a fall |  |  |  |  | vn absorb-39.8 «NP V NP»: agent=Goal force=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I need time to absorb all this information.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:absorb:x7:1
# text = I need time to absorb all this information.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	need	need	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	absorb	absorb	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	acl	_	_
6	all	all	DET	PDT	PronType=Tot	8	det:predet	_	_
7	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	8	det	_	_
8	information	information	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **need** | present | I |  |  |  | time |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot |
| 2 | **absorb** | to-infinitive | I *not said here* | all information |  |  |  |  | vn absorb-39.8 «NP V NP»: agent=Goal information=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Which material absorbs the most water?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:absorb:x8:1
# text = Which material absorbs the most water?
1	Which	which	DET	WDT	PronType=Int	2	det	_	_
2	material	material	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	absorbs	absorb	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	most	most	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	6	amod	_	_
6	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **absorb** | present | which material | the most water |  |  |  |  | vn absorb-39.8 «NP V NP»: agent=Goal water=Theme |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Crimthann absorbed instruction like a sponge and digested it as rapidly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:absorb:x9:1
# text = Crimthann absorbed instruction like a sponge and digested it as rapidly.
1	Crimthann	Crimthann	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	absorbed	absorb	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	instruction	instruction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	like	like	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	sponge	sponge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	digested	digest	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obj	_	_
10	as	as	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
11	rapidly	rapidly	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **absorb** | past | Crimthann | instruction |  |  |  | like a sponge | vn absorb-39.8 «NP V NP»: agent=Goal instruction=Theme |
| 2 | **digest** | past | Crimthann *not said here* | instruction |  |  |  | rapidly *property* | tree rules |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

<!-- pn -->
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