There are several ways in which a material can absorb sound.
I walked around this city for six months absorbing the sights and sounds.
I was wondering if the plants actually absorb sounds - it's so quiet.
The bodies of the audience in the hall absorb sound.
How far it was difficult to judge, for the walls of a winding canyon quickly absorb sound.
This variation had the unique attribute of being able to absorb sound.
On a recent Friday night, a waitress explained that they were installed to absorb sound.
Any designer can create ways to absorb sound, if that's what a client wants.
The roof is a canvas-like material that does not absorb sound.
It seemed to wrap itself around everything, absorbing sounds, blocking her vision.