chemical science, chemistry - the science of matter; the branch of the natural sciences dealing with the composition of substances and their properties and reactions

imbibition - (chemistry) the absorption of a liquid by a solid or gel

sorption - the process in which one substance takes up or holds another (by either absorption or adsorption)

natural philosophy, physical science, physics - the science of matter and energy and their interactions

extinction - the reduction of the intensity of radiation as a consequence of absorption and radiation

natural action, natural process, activity, action - a process existing in or produced by nature (rather than by the intent of human beings); "the action of natural forces"; "volcanic activity"

Americanisation, Americanization - assimilation into American culture

Europeanisation, Europeanization - assimilation into European culture

social process - a process involved in the formation of groups of persons

Westernisation, Westernization - assimilation of Western culture; the social process of becoming familiar with or converting to the customs and practices of Western civilization

malabsorption - abnormal absorption of nutrients from the digestive tract

biological process, organic process - a process occurring in living organisms

attention - the faculty or power of mental concentration; "keeping track of all the details requires your complete attention"

centering, focus, focusing, focussing, direction - the concentration of attention or energy on something; "the focus of activity shifted to molecular biology"; "he had no direction in his life"

specialism - the concentration of your efforts on a particular field of study or occupation

study - a state of deep mental absorption; "she is in a deep study"

cognitive state, state of mind - the state of a person's cognitive processes

abstractedness, abstraction - preoccupation with something to the exclusion of all else

absentmindedness - preoccupation so great that the ordinary demands on attention are ignored