osmosis

From "endosmose" and "exosmose", both coined by French physician Henri Dutrochet in 1826; from (respectively) Ancient Greek ἔνδον (éndon, “within”) and Ancient Greek ἔξω (éxō, “outer, external”), plus Ancient Greek ὠσμός (ōsmós, “push, impulsion”), from ὠθέω (ōthéō).

• enPR: ŏz-mōˈ -sĭs, ŏs-mōˈ -sĭs
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ɒzˈməʊsɪs/, /ɒsˈməʊsɪs/

• Audio (Southern England)

  (file)

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ɑzˈmoʊsɪs/, /ɑsˈmoʊsɪs/
• Rhymes: -əʊsɪs, -oʊsɪs

osmosis (countable and uncountable, plural osmoses)

1. (chemistry) The net movement of solvent molecules, usually water, from a region of lower solute concentration to a region of higher solute concentration through a partially permeable membrane.
2. (figurative) Passive absorption or impartation of information, habits, etc.; the act of teaching or picking up knowledge incidentally, without actually seeking that particular knowledge.

   Synonym: serendipity

   I was reading about chickens, and I guess I learned about hawks through osmosis.

   • 1999, Neil Gaiman, Stardust (Perennial paperback), published 2001, pages 36–37:

     At age fourteen, by a process of osmosis, of dirty jokes, whispered secrets and filthy ballads, Tristram learned of sex.

• osmotic
• osmose