v (transitive|physics|chemistry) To take in energy and convert it, as(defdate|First attested in the early 18th century.)
v (transitive) To engross or engage wholly; to occupy fully; as, 'absorbed' in study or in the pursuit of wealth. (defdate|First attested in the late 18th century.)
v (transitive) Assimilate mentally. (defdate|First attested in the late 19th century.)
v (transitive) To suck up; to drink in; to imbibe; as a sponge or as the lacteals of the body; to chemically take in. (defdate|First attested in the early 17th century.)
v (transitive) To occupy or consume time. (defdate|First attested in the mid 19th century.)
v (transitive) To include so that it no longer has separate existence; to overwhelm; to cause to disappear as if by swallowing up; to incorporate; to assimilate; to take in and use up. (defdate|First attested around 1350 to 1470.)(reference-book | last =| first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | editor =Brown, Lesley | others = | title = The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary | origdate = | origyear = 1933| origmonth = | url = | format = | accessdate = | accessyear = | accessmonth = | edition = 5th | date = | year =2003| month = | publisher =Oxford University Press | location =Oxford, UK | language = | id = | doi = | isbn =978-0-19-860575-7 | lccn = | ol = | pages =9| chapter = | chapterurl = | quote =)
v (transitive|obsolete) To engulf, as in water; to swallow up. (defdate|Attested from the late 15th century until the late 18th century.)