sorb

¹

[sawrb]

noun

1. a European tree, Sorbus domestica.

2. Also called sorb apple. the fruit of this tree.

sorb

²

[sawrb]

verb (used with object)

Chemistry.

1. to gather on a surface either by absorption, adsorption, or a combination of the two processes.

Sorb

³

[sawrb]

noun

1. a Wend.

sorb

¹

/ sɔːb /

noun

1. another name for service tree

2. any of various related trees, esp the mountain ash

3. Also called: sorb apple. the fruit of any of these trees

Sorb

²

/ sɔːb /

noun

1. Also called: Wend.  Lusatian. a member of a Slavonic people living chiefly in the rural areas of E Germany between the upper reaches of the Oder and Elbe rivers (Lusatia)

Other Word Forms

• sorbic adjective
• sorbable adjective
• sorbability noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of sorb¹

1520–30; < Latin sorbum serviceberry and sorbus service tree

Origin of sorb²

1905–10; extracted from absorb and adsorb

Origin of sorb³

1835–45; < German Sorbe ≪ Lusatian serbje, serbjo

Word History and Origins

Origin of sorb¹

C16: from Latin sorbus the sorb, service tree

Example Sentences

Conversely, to help soil retain moisture on hot, dry days, Ms. Trueman sprinkles in a few water-absorbing crystals like Terra Sorb, which take up 200 times their weight in water.

From New York Times

We have always focused on those radionuclides that can affect us, like Cs-137, Sr-90, Tc-99, I-131 and various isotopes of Pu, Am, U and Np, because these can enter the body, and react or sorb in different tissues and organs.

From Forbes

Even if you breathe it in, it can’t sorb, react, or build-up inside of you, since the only process that has any effect on this element is Henry’s Law.

From Forbes

These radionuclides usually drop out as particulates, sorb onto materials near the shore, or precipitate out of solution, before they get to the deep ocean, which is why seawater is much less radioactive than soil and vegetation.

From Forbes

Sorb, sorb, n. the mountain-ash or service-tree.—ns.

From Project Gutenberg