WordValeosmosis
the movement of water across a membrane toward higher solute
In more detail
1. (noun) the movement of water or other liquid through a thin barrier from where there is more water to where there is less water, especially in biology
2. (noun) the gradual process of learning or understanding something through repeated exposure without direct teaching
Examples
- 1. Water moves through the cell membrane by osmosis.
- 2. Children pick up language by osmosis when they live in a country where it is spoken.
How to use osmosis
Osmosis is used in scientific contexts to describe the physical process of liquid movement through a semipermeable membrane, governed by solute concentration. Figuratively and more colloquially, it describes how knowledge or cultural attitudes spread slowly without formal instruction—for example, learning language by osmosis through immersion. The figurative use is common in educational and cultural discussion but is sometimes criticized as imprecise.
Common phrases
- reverse osmosis
- osmosis occurs
- through osmosis
- by osmosis
- osmotic pressure
- osmotic balance
Synonyms
diffusion · permeation · absorption · gradual absorption · passive absorption
Word family
osmotic (adjective) · osmotically (adverb)
A common mistake
Learners often use osmosis to mean any form of absorption or learning, when technically it refers specifically to liquid movement driven by solute concentration differences, or more loosely to gradual unconscious absorption of information.
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