Ma'anar ƙamus na kalmar "imbibition" shine aiki ko tsari na shayar da ruwa, musamman ta hanyar kumburi ko yadawa. A cikin kayan lambu, yana nufin shayar da ruwa ta hanyar iri ko spore, yana haifar da kumburi kuma ya fara girma. A cikin ilmin sunadarai, yana nufin shayar da ruwa a cikin wani m, yana haifar da karuwa a girma. Hakanan ana amfani da kalmar a wasu fagage don bayyana shanye wani abu da wani.