Definition of Osmosis

1. Noun. (biology, chemistry) diffusion of molecules through a semipermeable membrane from a place of higher concentration to a place of lower concentration until the concentration on both sides is equal.

Group relationships: Dialysis
Category relationships: Biological Science, Biology, Chemical Science, Chemistry
Generic synonyms: Diffusion
Specialized synonyms: Reverse Osmosis
Derivative terms: Osmotic

Definition of Osmosis

1. n. Osmose.

Definition of Osmosis

1. Noun. The net movement of solvent molecules from a region of high solvent potential to a region of lower solvent potential through a partially permeable membrane ¹

2. Noun. (slang) Picking up knowledge accidentally, without actually seeking that particular knowledge. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Osmosis

1. a form of diffusion of a fluid through a membrane [n -MOSES]

Medical Definition of Osmosis

1. The movement of solvent through a membrane impermeable to solute, in order to balance the chemical potential due to the concentration differences on each side of the membrane. Frequently mis used in the popular press. This entry appears with permission from the Dictionary of Cell and Molecular Biology (11 Mar 2008)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Osmosis

osmoregulation
osmoregulations
osmoregulatory
osmoresistant
osmoresponsive
osmose
osmosed
osmosensation
osmosensing
osmosensitive
osmosensitivity
osmosensor
osmosensors
osmoses
osmosing
osmosis (current term)
osmosity
osmote
osmotherapy
osmotic
osmotic diuresis
osmotic diuretics
osmotic fragility
osmotic nephrosis
osmotic pressure
osmotic shock
osmotica
osmotically
osmoticum
osmotolerance

Literary usage of Osmosis

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. A Text-book of Physiology for Medical Students and Physicians by William Henry Howell (1911)
"DIFFUSION AND osmosis. Diffusion, Dialysis, and osmosis.—When two gases are brought into contact, a homogeneous mixture of the two is soon obtained. ..."

2. An Introduction to the Principles of Physical Chemistry from the Standpoint by Edward Wight Washburn (1921)
"(b) osmosis in General.—In the simple case of the ideal solution just considered we ... In other words the osmosis in such a case would be a purely kinetic ..."

3. The Journal of Physiology by Physiological Society (Great Britain). (1896)
"It was found that the initial rate of osmosis of the sheep- serum was represented by a flow of 65 mm. in the thermometric stem of the osmometer in one hour, ..."

4. Transactions of the American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical and (1904)
"It is my purpose in this paper to show that the force known as "osmosis " lias been ... Convection-currents have doubtless supplemented osmosis, and the two ..."

5. An American Text-book of Physiology by William Henry Howell (1900)
"Some Preliminary Considerations upon the Processes of Diffusion and osmosis, and their Importance in the Nutritive Exchanges of the Body. ..."

6. Proceedings and Transactions of the Royal Society of Canada: Déliberations by Royal Society of Canada (1908)
"In all the discussions and speculations of the last thirty years on the nature of physiological osmosis, it has occupied a central point, ..."

7. A Handbook of Colloid-chemistry: The Recognition of Colloids, the Theory of by Carl Wilhelm Wolfgang Ostwald (1919)
"osmosis of Colloid Systems 1. General Remarks and Literature. ... This is the phenomenon of osmosis, known for a century and a half.1 Osmotic phenomena take ..."

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