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.

Collect vs Absorb - What's the difference?

collect | absorb |

In lang=en terms the difference between collect and absorb

is that collect is to infer; to conclude while absorb is to accept or purchase in quantity.

As verbs the difference between collect and absorb

is that collect is to gather together; amass while absorb is to include so that it no longer has separate existence; to overwhelm; to cause to disappear as if by swallowing up; to incorporate; to assimilate; to take in and use up .

As an adjective collect

is to be paid for by the recipient, as a telephone call or a shipment.

As an adverb collect

is with payment due from the recipient.

As a noun collect

is (christianity) the prayer said before the reading of the epistle lesson, especially one found in a prayerbook, as with the book of common prayer.

collect

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) collecten, from (etyl) .

Verb

(en verb)
  • To gather together; amass.
  • * {{quote-magazine, year=2013, month=July-August, author=(Henry Petroski)
  • , title= Geothermal Energy , volume=101, issue=4, magazine=(American Scientist) , passage=Energy has seldom been found where we need it when we want it. Ancient nomads, wishing to ward off the evening chill and enjoy a meal around a campfire, had to collect wood and then spend time and effort coaxing the heat of friction out from between sticks to kindle a flame.}}
  • To get; particularly, get from someone.
  • To accumulate a number of similar or related (objects), particularly for a hobby or recreation.
  • To form a conclusion; to deduce, infer. (Compare (gather), (get).)
  • * 1992 , (Hilary Mantel), A Place of Greater Safety , Harper Perennial 2007, p. 292-3:
  • the riot is so great that it is very difficult to collect what is being said.
  • * John Locke
  • which sequence, I conceive, is very ill collected .
  • To collect payments.
  • To come together in a group or mass.
  • To collect objects as a hobby.
  • To infer; to conclude.
  • * South
  • Whence some collect that the former word imports a plurality of persons.

    Adjective

    (-)
  • To be paid for by the recipient, as a telephone call or a shipment.
  • It was to be a collect delivery, but no-one was available to pay.

    Adverb

    (-)
  • With payment due from the recipient.
  • I had to call collect .

    Derived terms

    * call collect * collect one's thoughts * collect one's wits * collect up * collectible * collection * collector * recollect, recollection

    Etymology 2

    (Wikipedia) From (etyl) .

    Noun

  • (en noun) (sometimes capitalized)
  • (Christianity) The prayer said before the reading of the epistle lesson, especially one found in a prayerbook, as with the Book of Common Prayer.
  • He used the day's collect as the basis of his sermon.

    absorb

    English

    Verb

  • To include so that it no longer has separate existence; to overwhelm; to cause to disappear as if by swallowing up; to incorporate; to assimilate; to take in and use up.
  • * (rfdate) :
  • Dark oblivion soon absorbs them all.
  • * (rfdate) :
  • The large cities absorb the wealth and fashion.
  • (obsolete) To engulf, as in water; to swallow up.
  • *
  • To suck up; to drink in; to imbibe; as a sponge or as the lacteals of the body; to chemically take in.
  • (transitive, physics, chemistry) To take in energy and convert it, as
  • # (physics) in receiving a physical impact or vibration without recoil.
  • # (physics) in receiving sound energy without repercussion or echo.
  • # (physics) taking in radiant energy and converting it to a different form of energy, like heat.
  • Heat, light, and electricity are absorbed in the substances into which they pass.
  • To engross or engage wholly; to occupy fully; as, absorbed in study or in the pursuit of wealth.
  • To occupy or consume time.
  • Assimilate mentally.
  • (business) To assume or pay for as part of a commercial transaction.
  • To defray the costs.
  • To accept or purchase in quantity.
  • Synonyms

    * (to include so that it no longer has separate existence) assimilate, engulf, incorporate, swallow up, overwhelm * (to suck up or drink in) draw, drink in, imbibe, soak up, sop up, suck, suck up, steep, take in, take up * (to consume completely) use up * (to occupy fully) engage, engross, immerse, monopolize, occupy * assume, bear, pay for to take in

    Antonyms

    * emit

    Derived terms

    * absorption * absorbable * absorbability

    References

    Anagrams

    *

    See also

    * adsorb