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Would the word happen to be diffuse? I have tried imbibtion but that word is invalid because it isn't specific to osmosis.

Research: http://www.majordifferences.com/2013/12/difference-between-osmosis-and.html#.V9xc4fkrLIU

Illa Merry
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  • Are you asking about crossing of the water through membrane? or you are telling about when a dry membrane soaks some water? – Always Confused Sep 17 '16 at 15:18
  • Why is osmosis not suitable? Do you want a term that can be used to describe osmosis? – WYSIWYG Sep 18 '16 at 16:36
  • Water passes through membrane also in case of reverse-osmosis (basically a sort of mechanical-pressure-driven flow). But that term also contains osmosis. so using te term osmosis is also ok. – Always Confused Sep 19 '16 at 11:03
  • Osmosis is a sort of diffusion where an overall diffusion is seen not in solute (say sugar) but instead the overall diffusion seen in solvent (commonly water in biological context). So the term diffusion could be used.Also passive-transport through cell-membrane sometimes called diffusion. – Always Confused Sep 19 '16 at 11:05

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This is not imbibition, as water molecules don't get absorbed in the semipermeable membranes commonly found in biological structures like Membrane around cells and cellular organelles (I took this example as you asked it in Biology forum). The water molecules pass through biological membranes via protein channels, that may be an active, secondarily active or passive process. Percolation and permeation are also inappropriate.

If the membrane doesn't hinder a particular solvent it can be said to be permeable to that solvent (e.g. Permeable to water etc.). "Osmosis" is also applicable. As osmosis is only a type of diffusion, you can use the term 'diffusion', but it would be too broad or generalized.

Arnb
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I am not quite sure what you are looking for but maybe the term passive transport will satisfy your needs although it is not specific to water.

Passive Transport is a movement of biochemicals and other atomic or molecular substances across cell membranes without need of energy input. Unlike active transport, it does not require an input of cellular energy because it is instead driven by the tendency of the system to grow in entropy.

Remi.b
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