Wiktionary

osmosis

See also: ósmosis

English

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Etymology

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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).

Pronunciation

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Noun

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osmosis (countable and uncountable, plural osmoses)

  1. (chemistry) 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.
  2. (figurative) Passive absorption or impartation of information, habits, etc.; the act of teaching or picking up particular knowledge incidentally, without actually seeking it.
    Synonym: serendipity
    I was reading about chickens, and I guess I learned about hawks through osmosis.
    • 1999, Neil Gaiman, Stardust (Perennial paperback), published 2001, pages 36–37:
      At age fourteen, by a process of osmosis, of dirty jokes, whispered secrets and filthy ballads, Tristram learned of sex.

Derived terms

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Translations

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