consume vs absorb

consume and absorb both are verbs.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
consume	No	No	Yes	No
absorb	No	No	Yes	No

As verbs, absorb is a hypernym of consume; that is, absorb is a word with a broader meaning than consume:

Other hypernyms of consume include engage, engross, occupy.

consume (verb)	absorb (verb)
engage fully	cause to become one with
serve oneself to, or consume regularly	take up mentally
use up (resources or materials)	consume all of one's attention or time
spend extravagantly	devote (oneself) fully to
eat up completely, as with great appetite	take in, also metaphorically
destroy completely	become imbued
	assimilate or take in
	take up, as of debts or payments
	suck or take up or in