absorbent

& s. [In Fr. absorbant; Ital absorbent; Lat. absorbens, pr. par. of absorbeo.] Imbibing, drinking in, swallowing; or in a state to imbibe, drink in, or swallow. the specimen is absorbent , from the lo of animal matter. Owen: Brit. Fo il Mammals and Birds , p. 116. A. As adjective : 1. Anat.: Producing absorption. The term is applied chiefly to a system of ve els described under ABSORBENT, 8. (q. v.) 2. Painting: Absorbent ground is ground prepared for a picture by means of distemper or water-colours, which are designed to absorb the oil of the painting, thus best economising time and increasing the brilliancy of the colouring. B. As substantive: I. Gen.: That which absorbs or sucks in. for the clouded sky seldom allows the sun to warm the ocean, itself a bad absorbent of heat. Darwin: Journal of Voyage round the World , ch. xi, II. Spec.: 1. Chem. A substance which has the power of absorbing gases and vapours into its pores, as charcoal made from dense wood, which thus takes up 90 times its volume of ammoniacal gas. 2. Anat .: All organised ti ues are properly absorbents, but some are so to a much larger extent than others. Hence the name is specially given to the lacteals and lymphatics. [LACTEALS, LYMPHATICS.] It is now known, however, that the blood-ve els also have a share in the function of absorption. 3. Vegetable Phys. The portions of a plant which imbibe the moisture nece ary for its growth the chief of these are the spongioles of the root, although to a certain extent moisture is undoubtedly imbibed by the leaves and bark. 4. Phar.: (1) A medicine with no acrimony in itself, which destroys acidity in the stomach and bowels, such as magnesia, prepared chalk, oyster-shells, crabs' claws, . Similar substances are applied externally to ulcers or sores in neutralising any acid which they may contain. They are called also antacids and antacrids (q.v.). (2) A medicine which acts on the absorbent ve els, causing them to reduce enlarged and indurated parts. (Example, iodine.)