absorbative

adjective

ab·​sorb·​a·​tive əb-ˈsȯr-bə-tiv How to pronounce absorbative (audio)
-ˈzȯr- also ab-
: absorptive
He had enjoyed the life with the peculiar appropriative, assimilative, absorbative gust of the typical schoolboy.L. B. Walford, Longman's Magazine, 1893
… mycorrhizae increase the absorbative power of root systems … by 10 to 1,000 times.Rachel Foster, Eugene Weekly, 8 Nov. 2007

Word History

Etymology

absorb + -ative

First Known Use

1846, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of absorbative was in 1846

The Ultimate Dictionary Awaits

Expand your vocabulary and dive deeper into language with Merriam-Webster Unabridged.

  1. Expanded definitions
  2. Detailed etymologies
  3. Advanced search tools
  4. All ad-free

Discover what makes Merriam-Webster Unabridged the essential choice for true word lovers.

Start Your Free Trial Now

Dictionary Entries Near absorbative

Cite this Entry

“Absorbative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/absorbative. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!