osmosis
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See also: ósmosis
English
[edit]
Etymology
[edit]From endosmose and exosmose, both coined by French physician Henri Dutrochet in 1826; from (respectively) Ancient Greek ἔνδον (éndon, “within”) and Ancient Greek ἔξω (éxō, “outer, external”), plus Ancient Greek ὠσμός (ōsmós, “push, impulsion”), from ὠθέω (ōthéō).
Pronunciation
[edit]- enPR: ŏz-mōˈ -sĭs, ŏs-
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ɒzˈməʊsɪs/, /ɒsˈməʊsɪs/
Audio (Southern England): (file) - (General American) IPA(key): /ɑzˈmoʊsɪs/, /ɑsˈmoʊsɪs/
- Rhymes: -əʊsɪs, -oʊsɪs
Noun
[edit]osmosis (countable and uncountable, plural osmoses)
- (chemistry) The net movement of solvent molecules, usually water, from a region of lower solute concentration to a region of higher solute concentration through a partially permeable membrane.
- (figurative) Passive absorption or impartation of information, habits, etc.; the act of teaching or picking up particular knowledge incidentally, without actually seeking it.
- Synonym: serendipity
- I was reading about chickens, and I guess I learned about hawks through osmosis.
- 1999, Neil Gaiman, Stardust (Perennial paperback), published 2001, pages 36–37:
- At age fourteen, by a process of osmosis, of dirty jokes, whispered secrets and filthy ballads, Tristram learned of sex.
Derived terms
[edit]Related terms
[edit]Translations
[edit]movement of molecules
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Categories:
- English terms derived from Ancient Greek
- English 3-syllable words
- English terms with IPA pronunciation
- English terms with audio pronunciation
- Rhymes:English/əʊsɪs
- Rhymes:English/əʊsɪs/3 syllables
- Rhymes:English/oʊsɪs
- Rhymes:English/oʊsɪs/3 syllables
- English lemmas
- English nouns
- English uncountable nouns
- English countable nouns
- English nouns with irregular plurals
- en:Chemistry
- English terms with usage examples
- English terms with quotations
- en:Liquids
- English terms suffixed with -osis