ADSORBENT

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does adsorbent mean? 

• ADSORBENT (noun)
  The noun ADSORBENT has 1 sense:

1. a material having capacity or tendency to adsorb another substance

  Familiarity information: ADSORBENT used as a noun is very rare.

• ADSORBENT (adjective)
  The adjective ADSORBENT has 1 sense:

1. having capacity or tendency to adsorb or cause to accumulate on a surface

  Familiarity information: ADSORBENT used as an adjective is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ADSORBENT (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A material having capacity or tendency to adsorb another substance

Classified under:

Nouns denoting substances

Synonyms:

adsorbent; adsorbent material

Hypernyms ("adsorbent" is a kind of...):

sorbent; sorbent material (a material that sorbs another substance; i.e. that has the capacity or tendency to take it up by either absorption or adsorption)

Derivation:

adsorb (accumulate (liquids or gases) on the surface)

adsorbent (having capacity or tendency to adsorb or cause to accumulate on a surface)

• ADSORBENT (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Having capacity or tendency to adsorb or cause to accumulate on a surface

Synonyms:

adsorbent; adsorptive; surface-assimilative

Similar:

chemisorptive; chemosorptive (having the capacity to adsorb by chemical as contrasted with physical forces)

Antonym:

nonadsorbent (lacking a capacity to adsorb or cause to accumulate on a surface)

Derivation:

adsorb (accumulate (liquids or gases) on the surface)

adsorbent (a material having capacity or tendency to adsorb another substance)

 Context examples 

A natural clay-like mineral mixture of hydrated aluminum silicate containing magnesium, adsorbent Attapulgite (kaopectate) acts locally in the intestines to adsorb bacteria and toxins; reduce water loss; and treat diarrhea.

(Attapulgite, NCI Thesaurus)