Absorbent means able to soak up liquids easily. When you spill juice on the counter, you reach for an absorbent paper towel because it pulls the liquid into itself, leaving the surface dry. A sponge is absorbent. A cotton T-shirt is absorbent. A plastic raincoat is not.

Different materials have different levels of absorbency: terry cloth towels work great after a shower because their thick, looped fibers trap lots of water, while a silk scarf would barely help at all.

Scientists and engineers think carefully about absorbency when designing products. Diapers need to be highly absorbent to keep babies dry. Athletic clothing uses special fabrics that are absorbent enough to wick sweat away from your skin. Meanwhile, boat builders want materials that are not absorbent so water doesn't seep into the hull.

When something is described as absorbent, you're learning about its physical property, how it interacts with liquids. Next time you're cleaning up a spill, you're putting absorbency to work: choosing the right material for the job means understanding which items will soak up the mess and which ones will just push it around.