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Subtle vs Osmosis - What's the difference?

subtle | osmosis |

As an adjective subtle

is hard to grasp; not obvious or easily understood; barely noticeable.

As a noun osmosis is

.

subtle

English

Alternative forms

* subtil (obsolete) * subtile (obsolete)

Adjective

(er)
  • Hard to grasp; not obvious or easily understood; barely noticeable.
    • The difference is subtle , but you can hear it if you listen carefully.
  • (of a thing) Cleverly contrived.
  • (of a person or animal) Cunning, skillful.
  • insidious
  • * 1623 , , act iv, scene 4,
    • Thy age confirmed, proud, subtle , bloody, treacherous.
  • Tenuous; rarefied; of low density or thin consistency.

    • Synonyms

    * crafty, cunning, skillful * (insidious) insidious

    Antonyms

    * (hard to grasp) simple

    Derived terms

    * subtle body * subtleness * subtlety * subtly

    References

    * * *

    Anagrams

    * * * *

    osmosis

    English

    (wikipedia osmosis)

    Noun

    (osmoses)
  • The net movement of solvent molecules, usually water, from a region of high solvent potential to a region of lower solvent potential through a partially permeable membrane
  • (slang) Picking up knowledge accidentally, without actually seeking that particular knowledge.
    • I was reading about chickens, and I guess I learned about hawks through osmosis .
  • * 1999 , Neil Gaiman, Stardust , pages 36-37 (2001 Perennial paperback edition)
    • At age fourteen, by a process of osmosis , of dirty jokes, whispered secrets and filthy ballads, Tristram learned of sex.

    Related terms

    * osmotic * osmose

    Derived terms

    * electroosmosis * endosmosis * exosmosis