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Webster 1913 Edition

Imbibe

Im-bibe′

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Imbibed
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Imbibing
.]
[L.
imbibere
; pref.
im-
in +
bibere
to drink: cf. F.
imbiber
. Cf.
Bib
,
Imbue
,
Potable
.]
1.
To drink in; to absorb; to soak up; to suck or take in; to receive as by drinking;
as, a person
imbibes
drink, or a sponge
imbibes
moisture
.
2.
To receive or absorb into the mind and retain;
as, to
imbibe
principles; to
imbibe
errors.
3.
To saturate; to imbue.
[Obs.]
“Earth, imbibed with . . . acid.”
Sir I. Newton.

Webster 1828 Edition

Imbibe

IMBI'BE

,
Verb.
T.
[L. imbibo; in and bibo, to drink.]
1.
To drink in; to absorb; as, a dry or porous body imbibes a fluid; a sponge imbibes moisture.
2.
To receive or admit into the mind and retain; as, to imbibe principles; to imbibe errors. Imbibing in the mind always implies retention, at least for a time.
3.
To imbue, as used by Newton; but he has not been followed.

Definition 2024

imbibe

imbibe

See also: imbibé

English

Verb

imbibe ‎(third-person singular simple present imbibes, present participle imbibing, simple past and past participle imbibed)

  1. To drink (used frequently of alcoholic beverages).
  2. (figuratively) To take in; absorb
    to imbibe knowledge

Derived terms

Hyponyms

Related terms

Translations

French

Pronunciation

Verb

imbibe

  1. first-person singular present indicative of imbiber
  2. third-person singular present indicative of imbiber
  3. first-person singular present subjunctive of imbiber
  4. first-person singular present subjunctive of imbiber
  5. second-person singular imperative of imbiber

Latin

Verb

imbibe

  1. second-person singular present active imperative of imbibō

Etymology

Borrowing from Old French imbiber, from Latin imbibere, from im- + bibere ‎(“to drink”), whence also beverage (via Old French), infinitive of bibō, from Proto-Italic *pibō, from Proto-Indo-European *peh₃-, whence also potable, potion.

Pronunciation

  • (UK) IPA(key): /ɪmˈbaɪb/
  • Rhymes: -aɪb

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