absorber

to absorb

absorber(ahb-sohr-behr)

transitive verb

1. (to sop up)

a. to absorb

Estas esponjas de mar absorben el agua muy bien.

These sea sponges absorb water really well.

b. to soak up

Por favor, pásame una toalla para absorber el derrame.

Please pass me a towel so that I can soak up the spill.

2. (biology)

a. to absorb

La sangre absorbe los nutrientes de la comida digerida.

Blood absorbs nutrients from digested food.

3. (to consume)

a. to absorb

Desde su ascenso, su trabajo ha absorbido todo su tiempo y apenas puede pasar ni un minuto con su familia.

Ever since his promotion, his job has absorbed all of his time and he can barely spend a minute with his family.

b. to take up

Mis pasatiempos absorben la mayoría de mi tiempo libre, pero los disfruto mucho.

My hobbies take up most of my free time, but I enjoy them immensely.

c. to use up

Este proceso de producción absorbe muchos recursos y es lento e ineficiente.

This production process uses up many resources and is slow and inefficient.

4. (finance)

a. to take over

Nuestra empresa absorbió a Industria Sánchez, una fábrica textil.

Our company took over Industria Sanchez, a textile factory.

absorberse

pronominal verb

5. (to concentrate; used with "en")

a. to become engrossed in

Me absorbí en la música y comencé a bailar.

I became engrossed in the music and started dancing.

b. to become absorbed in

Me absorbí en la novela y me olvidé del mundo exterior.

I became absorbed in the novel and forgot about the outside world.