Osmosis is the diffusion of water through a semi-permeable membrane. More specifically, it is the movement of water across a semi-permeable membrane from an area of high water potential (low solute concentration) to an area of low water potential (high solute concentration). It is a physical process in which a solvent moves, without input of energy, across a semi-permeable membrane (permeable to the solvent, but not the solute) separating two solutions of different concentrations. Osmosis releases energy, and can be made to do work, as when a growing tree root splits a stone. For example, if you put an animal cell into a beaker of water and observe it after a few hours, the cell would likely swell up and finally burst. This is because, Osmosis has occured and made the water pass through the semi/partially permeable membrane of the animal cell, causing it to swell up as water has been absorbed and finally bursts.
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