1. Accounting: When related accounts are absorbed into each other. Called an absorption account . 2. Economics: Total amount spent by a country on goods and services. Account deficits or surplus occurs when the GDP goes above or below the absorption level. 3. Management: A overhaul of a companies operations and structure. 4. Materials: This occurs when a fluid is absorbed by another material. Refer to absorption. 5. Securities: This occurs when an underwriter sells their securities. This is also called assimilation .