The absorption coefficient is a measure of how much energy a material absorbs and is often used in the study of sound and light. Synonyms for this term include absorption rate, attenuation coefficient, and absorption factor. The absorption rate refers to the rate at which a material absorbs energy, while the attenuation coefficient determines the decrease in energy as it passes through a material. The absorption factor is another term for absorption coefficient and indicates how much energy is absorbed by a material compared to how much passes through it. Understanding these synonyms for absorption coefficient is essential in researching the properties of various materials and their interactions with sound and light energy.