What is the scientific term for something that soaks up water?

Answer 1

"Hygroscopic," maybe. "Absorbent" is another possibility. "Deliquescent" is another option. All of these have slightly different meanings, so if you just slam one into a sentence in an attempt to sound educated, you'll likely wind up doing exactly the opposite.

Answer 2

The scientific term for something that soaks up water is "hydrophilic." This term is used to describe materials or substances that have an affinity for water and readily absorb it.