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Glite Dictionary
absorbable

absorbable

1 4.6
Able to go into a material through its surface, for example skin or fabric
  • adjective
  • /əbˈzɔrbəbl/
translation icon : absorbible
  • Several types of absorbable sutures are preferred by surgeons for internal stitches.
  • absorbable suture

There are some forms of NAD now that are supposedly more absorbable.

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Examples

  • Following removal, the sinus was packed with absorbable sponges.

    Academic text (2003)

  • Being absorbable, Caprosyn suture should not be used where extended approximation of tissue is required.

    Academic text (2002)

  • Also, we have minerals being made more absorbable by us than what comes from plants.

  • By the way, a food may have a certain amount of nutrients, but that doesn't mean it's absorbable and bioavailable!

    Blog text (30)

  • Meat and eggs is much more bioavailable and absorbable and usable by your body than plant proteins.

    KenDBerryMD

  • Various absorbable materials have been marketed to obviate the need for the removal of packing.

    Academic text (2008)

  • But some surgeons still prefer to use absorbable mesh in the contaminated field to avoid recurrence.

    Academic text (2007)

  • The fungus can do what the insects cannot: break down indigestible leaf pieces harvested by the leaf-cutting ants and turn them into absorbable nutrients.

    Academic text (1995)

  • Cohen wanted to create a formula that would combine the sweetness of nectar and the nutritional punch of pollen into a digestible, absorbable food that bees would gobble up.

    Academic text (2003)

  • The doctor used an absorbable material to ensure that no further surgeries would be needed.

Synonyms

bioavailable
vsabsorbable
  • Specialized
1 6.7

Able to be taken in and used by the body

moves through pores or surface but may not be processed or used by organisms
assimilable
vsabsorbable
  • Specialized
1 8.1

A substance the body can absorb and use

moves through pores or surface without becoming part of tissues

Antonyms

nonabsorbable
  • Specialized
6.1

Not able to be taken in by the body or by materials

How Absorbent

absorbent
10 3.4
absorbable
1 4.6

Surface Forms

absorbable positive

Morphology

absorbable = absorb (transparent) = absorb + able

Standard adjective formation from the verb 'absorb' with '-able' meaning 'capable of being absorbed', so the meaning is directly derivable.

Etymology

Absorbable comes from absorb meaning 'to take in' or 'soak up' and the ending -able meaning 'able to be'. Think of a sponge taking in water: something absorbable can be taken into the skin or body, which is why medicines or stitches called absorbable can be absorbed by the body.