osmosis
Say it: oz-MOH-sis /ɒzˈməʊsɪs/ · noun
What “osmosis” means
Water crossing a membrane towards the side with more dissolved substances.
More precisely: The movement of water through a membrane; or absorbing ideas gradually without conscious effort.
When to use it
In science, for water moving through a selective membrane; casually, for learning something gradually just by being around it.
It can also mean
Learning ideas gradually by being around them, without deliberately studying.
Similar words
absorption, assimilation, soaking up
Where it comes from
From Greek ōsmos, 'a push'.
Quick check
A raisin left in plain water swells as water crosses its skin towards the concentrated solution inside. That's…
evaporation or osmosis?
Show the answer
osmosis
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