What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

What is the difference between immerse and soak?

immerse | soak |

In transitive terms the difference between immerse and soak

is that immerse is to involve deeply while soak is to allow (especially a liquid) to be absorbed; to take in, receive. (usually + up.

As an adjective immerse

is immersed; buried; sunk.

As a noun soak is

an immersion in water etc.

immerse

English

Verb

(immers)
  • To put under the surface of a liquid; to dunk.
  • Archimedes determined the volume of objects by immersing them in water.
  • To involve deeply
  • The sculptor immersed himself in anatomic studies.
  • (mathematics)
  • * 2002 , Kari Jormakka, Flying Dutchmen: Motion in Architecture (page 40)
  • Thus, in mathematical terms a Klein bottle cannot be "embedded" but only "immersed " in three dimensions as an embedding has no self-intersections but an immersion may have them.

    Synonyms

    * submerge

    Derived terms

    * immersion * immersive

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • (obsolete) Immersed; buried; sunk.
  • * Francis Bacon
  • After a long enquiry of things immerse in matter, I interpose some object which is immateriate, or less materiate; such as this of sounds.
    ----

    soak

    English

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (label) To be saturated with liquid by being immersed in it.
  • * Bible, (w) xxiv. 7
  • Their land shall be soaked with blood.
  • (label) To immerse in liquid to the point of saturation or thorough permeation.
  • (label) To penetrate or permeate by saturation.
  • * Sir (Walter Scott) (1771-1832)
  • The rivulet beneath soaked its way obscurely through wreaths of snow.
  • (label) To allow (especially a liquid) to be absorbed; to take in, receive. (usually + up )
  • * {{quote-book, year=1927, author= F. E. Penny
  • , chapter=4, title= Pulling the Strings , passage=The case was that of a murder. It had an element of mystery about it, however, which was puzzling the authorities. A turban and loincloth soaked in blood had been found; also a staff.}}
  • To drink intemperately or gluttonously.
  • (label) To heat a metal before shaping it.
  • To hold a kiln at a particular temperature for a given period of time.
  • (label) To absorb; to drain.
  • Noun

    (en noun)
  • An immersion in water etc.
  • * "After the climb, I had a nice long soak in a bath."
  • (slang, British) A drunkard.
  • (Australia) A low-lying depression that fills with water after rain.
  • * 1985 , (Peter Carey), Illywhacker , Faber & Faber 2003, p. 38:
  • I set off early to walk along the Melbourne Road where, one of the punters had told me, there was a soak with plenty of frogs in it.

    Anagrams

    * * * English ergative verbs