Water and Wastewater Terms Beginning O

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

osmosis (oz-MOE-sis)

The passage of a liquid from a weak solution to a more concentrated solution across a semipermeable membrane. The membrane allows the passage of the water (solvent) but not the dissolved solids (solutes). This process tends to equalize the conditions on either side of the membrane.