imbibe

Imbibe is a verb with two closely related senses. Literally, it means to drink in, especially a beverage; to take liquids into the body by swallowing. More broadly, it also means to absorb or take in something nonphysical, such as ideas, knowledge, or the atmosphere of a place.

Origin: The word comes from Latin imbibere, meaning “to drink in,” formed from in- “in” and bibere “to drink.” It entered English via Old French or directly in the Middle English period. The noun form imbibition is used in science and botany to describe absorption of liquids by a solid or a cell, and metaphorically to describe the act of absorbing influences or ideas.

Usage: Imbibe is relatively formal or literary in contemporary English. In ordinary conversation, people more often say “drink” for beverages, while “imbibe” may be used in writing to convey deliberation, intensity, or a sense of absorption. Examples: “She imbibed the wine with relish” and “The city imbibes the culture of its immigrant communities.” The word can also occur in phrases like “imbibe new ideas” or “imbibing wisdom.”