1. To swallow up, to include, or to take a thing into the loss of its separate existence; to incorporate: In one gulp, the whale seemed to absorb all the krill.

The company absorbed the two smaller companies creating one large conglomerate.

2. To engross, or to completely engage the attention or faculties: The students were completely absorbed by the magic of the teacher's story telling.
3. To take up or to receive imponderable agents by chemical or molecular action: Not long after Howard swallows his vitamins, they will be absorbed into his blood stream.
4. To assume the burden of costs, expenses, etc.: The owners, Mr. and Mrs. Robinson, will personally absorb the small financial loss in order to continue to keep their company solvent.
5. To take in a shock, jolt, etc. with little or no recoil or reaction: The soft surface seemed to absorb the impact of the hammer.
6. To soak up and not to reflect: Carlos, the builder, told them that the light rays were absorbed by black surfaces and he also said that cork ceilings absorbed sound.
7. Etymology: from Latin absorbere, "to swallow up"; from ab-, "from" + sorbere, "to suck in".

A device that is floated on the surface of water in order to stop the spread of an oil spill and to aid in its cleanup.