i'm trying to understand it. so some things are more absorbent because of, they are made out of a softer material. so cotton will absorb more than lead. so this is probably something to do with what cotton is made out of.

but here's where it gets complicated. think about, instead of a sheet of cotton material, a single strand. that should still be absorbent right? but it won't absorb any water at all i think. maybe a little bit of it will cling to it but that's all. so does that mean that absorbent is when water just hangs out between the holes inbetween the threads of cotton rather than going INSIDE the thread.