The adsorption of water by hydrophilic compounds like cellulose and...

It is a physical process which involves adsorption and/or absorption of water by hydrophilic substances without forming a solution e.g., wooden doors absorb water and swell up in rainy season and seeds of pea and gram when placed in water swell up due to imbibition

The imbibition process involves diffusion and capillary action.
In imbibition, Liquid substance (water) is called imbibate, and solid colloidal substance is called imbibant. e.g. the gum, dry wood, cell protoplasm, seed coat, etc. Due to imbibition, water molecules remain held (absorbed) over the surface of hydrophilic particles and also remain held between the space of particles of imbibant.