Function absorbed by meet (3,4)

I believe the answer is:

run into

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'meet' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

'function absorbed' is the wordplay.
'function' becomes 'run' (running is a kind of functioning).
'absorbed' becomes 'into' (I can't explain this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'run'+'into'='RUN INTO'

'by' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for run into that I've seen before include "Happen to meet - with a bump?" , "Meet (someone) unexpectedly" , "Encounter (someone)" , "Encounter by chance - or collision?" , "Meet (a person) by chance" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.

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