The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word ABSORBENT
I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
A
B
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More clues leading to the result ABSORBENT
- Taking it all in having gone around planet?
- Spongy sphere in middle of somewhere else
- Spongy dessert knight tucks into after a drop of brandy
- Retentive baronet indiscriminately swallowing bullshit
- Spongy clue for boars?
- Spongy dessert knight tucks into after sailor
- Taking it all in having gone round planet?
- Sailor told to go round globe, taking things in?
- Missing eyeball’s punctured — like a tissue?
- Sailor told to go round the globe taking things in?
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Taking it all in" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case taking it all in = absorbent.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does ABSORBENT mean?
ABSORBENT noun- Anything which absorbs.
- (pluralized) The vessels by which the processes of absorption are carried on, as the lymphatics in animals, the extremities of the roots in plants.
- Any substance which absorbs and neutralizes acid fluid in the stomach and bowels, as magnesia, chalk, etc.; also a substance, e.g., iodine, which acts on the absorbent vessels so as to reduce enlarged and indurated parts.
- A liquid used in the process of separating gases or volatile liquids, in oil refining.
- Having the ability or tendency to absorb; able to soak up liquid easily; absorptive.
- Anything which absorbs.
- (pluralized) The vessels by which the processes of absorption are carried on, as the lymphatics in animals, the extremities of the roots in plants.
- Any substance which absorbs and neutralizes acid fluid in the stomach and bowels, as magnesia, chalk, etc.; also a substance, e.g., iodine, which acts on the absorbent vessels so as to reduce enlarged and indurated parts.
- A liquid used in the process of separating gases or volatile liquids, in oil refining.
- Having the ability or tendency to absorb; able to soak up liquid easily; absorptive.