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osmosis
[oz-moh-sis, os-]
noun
Physical Chemistry, Cell Biology.
the tendency of a fluid, usually water, to pass through a semipermeable membrane into a solution where the solvent concentration is higher, thus equalizing the concentrations of materials on either side of the membrane.
the diffusion of fluids through membranes or porous partitions.
a subtle or gradual absorption or mingling.
He never studies but seems to learn by osmosis.
osmosis
/ ɒzˈməʊsɪs, ɒzˈmɒtɪk, ɒs-, ɒs- /
noun
the passage of a solvent through a semipermeable membrane from a less concentrated to a more concentrated solution until both solutions are of the same concentration
diffusion through any membrane or porous barrier, as in dialysis
gradual or unconscious assimilation or adoption, as of ideas
osmosis
The movement of a solvent through a membrane separating two solutions of different concentrations. The solvent from the side of weaker concentration usually moves to the side of the stronger concentration, diluting it, until the concentrations of the solutions are equal on both sides of the membrane.
◆ The pressure exerted by the molecules of the solvent on the membrane they pass through is called osmotic pressure. Osmotic pressure is the energy driving osmosis and is important for living organisms because it allows water and nutrients dissolved in water to pass through cell membranes.
Other 51Թ Forms
- osmotic adjective
- osmotically adverb
- nonosmotic adjective
- nonosmotically adverb
- unosmotic adjective
- Dzˈdzپ adverb
51Թ History and Origins
Origin of osmosis1
51Թ History and Origins
Origin of osmosis1
Example Sentences
Germany imagined it was delivering democratisation by osmosis.
“My grandmother took care of us, so she always had the soaps on, and by osmosis, they seeped into my brain,” she said.
I suppose he believes you can cover the administration through osmosis.
But growing up in Omaha, a boy’s love for baseball could be born of sheer osmosis.
We’ve both experienced writer’s block, staring at the blank page, and have both read and reread the classics in case we learn tricks via osmosis.
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When To Use
Osmosis is the movement of a fluid from an area with a low concentration of a solute through a semipermeable membrane to an area with a high concentration of a solute.A solute is something that dissolves in something else, known as a solvent, creating a solution. In sugar water (a solution), the sugar is the solute that dissolves in the water, the solvent. Concentration is the measurement of how much solute is in a solvent. Semipermeable means that only certain things can pass through something. In osmosis, only the solvent (usually water) can pass through the membrane.The process of osmosis works like this. Let’s say we have a glass that is separated down the middle with a plastic divider with tiny holes in it that only water can move through. First, we fill the glass with water. Then, we add 5 grams of salt to one half of the glass and 7 grams of salt to the other half. What happens?Over time, water will flow from the half with 5 grams of salt (the lower concentration) into the half with 7 grams of salt (the higher concentration). Water will stop flowing (or flow incredibly slowly) when the two halves have about the same amount of salt in each side.Osmosis is a natural process that a solvent will want to do. Both plants and animals use osmosis to absorb water into their highly concentrated cells. Without osmosis these living things would be more likely to suffer from dehydration.
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