Final answer:
Adsorption is the process where a solid surface attracts and holds substances on its outer surface, through intermolecular forces.
Step-by-step explanation:
The process in which a solid attracts and holds a substance on its outer surface is known as adsorption. It is different from absorption, where the substance is taken into the bulk of the material. During adsorption, the substance adheres to the surface of the solid due to various intermolecular forces.
Sublimation is related but distinct; it is when a solid turns into a gas without passing through a liquid state. Condensation is the process where a gas turns into a liquid. The process described in the question does not match with subcooling or superheating, as these involve changing the temperature of a substance without a phase change occurring.