ASSIMILATE

assimilate

(verb) become similar to one’s environment; “Immigrants often want to assimilate quickly”

assimilate

(verb) make similar; “This country assimilates immigrants very quickly”

assimilate

(verb) become similar in sound; “The nasal assimilates to the following consonant”

absorb, assimilate, ingest, take in

(verb) take up mentally; “he absorbed the knowledge or beliefs of his tribe”

assimilate, imbibe

(verb) take (gas, light or heat) into a solution

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Verb

assimilate (third-person singular simple present assimilates, present participle assimilating, simple past and past participle assimilated)

(transitive) To incorporate nutrients into the body, especially after digestion.

(transitive) To incorporate or absorb (knowledge) into the mind.

(transitive) To absorb (a person or people) into a community or culture.

(transitive) To compare to something similar.

(transitive) To bring to a likeness or to conformity; to cause a resemblance between.

(intransitive) To become similar.

(intransitive) To be incorporated or absorbed into something.

Synonyms

• (incorporate or absorb knowledge into the mind): process

• (absorb a group of people into a community): integrate

Noun

assimilate

Something that is or has been assimilated.

Source: Wiktionary

As*sim"i*late, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Assimilated; p. pr. & vb. n. Assimilating.] Etym: [L. assimilatus, p. p. of assimilare; ad + similare to make like, similis like. See Similar, Assemble, Assimilate.]

1. To bring to a likeness or to conformity; to cause a resemblance between. Sir M. Hale. To assimilate our law to the law of Scotland. John Bright. Fast falls a fleecy; the downy flakes Assimilate all objects. Cowper.

2. To liken; to compa [R.]

3. To appropriate and transform or incorporate into the substance of the assimilating body; to absorb or appropriate, as nourishment; as, food is assimilated and converted into organic tissue. Hence also animals and vegetables may assimilate their nourishment. Sir I. Newton. His mind had no power to assimilate the lessons. Merivale.

As*sim"i*late, v. i.

1. To become similar or like something else. [R.]

2. To change and appropriate nourishment so as to make it a part of the substance of the assimilating body. Aliment easily assimilated or turned into blood. Arbuthnot.

3. To be converted into the substance of the assimilating body; to become incorporated; as, some kinds of food assimilate more readily than others. I am a foreign material, and cannot assimilate with the church of England. J. H. Newman.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition