What term describes a change in which a system absorbs energy from its surroundings?

The term that describes a change in which a system absorbs energy from its surroundings is "endothermic." During an endothermic process, the energy absorbed usually takes the form of heat, which results in a decrease in temperature of the surrounding environment. A common example of an endothermic reaction is the process of photosynthesis, where plants absorb sunlight to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen.

In contrast, exothermic processes release energy into the surroundings, often in the form of heat, causing a rise in temperature in the nearby environment. Examples include combustion reactions. Other options like "aerobic" pertain to processes that require oxygen, and "calorimetric" relates to the science of measuring heat transfer, neither of which directly align with the concept of energy absorption in a system.