osmosis
/ɑzˈmoʊ̯sɪs/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.79 in modern English
9
Scrabble Score
7
Letters
3
Syllables
4
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
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.
Countable; Uncountable
noun
Passive absorption or impartation of information, habits, etc.; the process of teaching or learning particular knowledge incidentally rather than consciously.
Countable; Uncountable
Example Sentences
Etymology
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).
Origin
Word Breakdown
- Root: ἔνδον, ἔξω, ὠσμός
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ɑzˈmoʊ̯sɪs/
- British English: /ɒzˈməʊ̯sɪs/