Definition: The word "absorption" in the context of science and medicine refers to a process by which a substance becomes part of another substance, usually through chemical reaction. In simple terms, absorption occurs when a material or substance absorbs energy from another substance. When light, sound, heat or other types of radiation are absorbed, it means that the substance is changed into a different type of matter. The absorption process is important in many areas of science and medicine, including medical imaging technologies (like ultrasound) and spectroscopy (the study of molecules). In these applications, the energy from the absorbed radiation is used to analyze the structure and composition of the material being scanned.