Question

How would you describe the swelling of a piece of wood when placed in water?

Answer 1

Part 1: Imbibition
The process involving absorption of water by a substance is referred to as imbibition. Swelling of a piece of wood when placed in water is due to imbibition. Imbibition is a reversible process.

Part 2: Reason for not considering a swelled piece of wood as growth
Growth is characterised by an irreversible, permanent increase in the size of an individual cell, organ or its parts, an organism over a period of time. Swelling up of the piece of wood is not considered as growth. There is no increase in the dry weight of the wood. Also, the temporary increase in size due to imbibition can be reversed.