assimilate

verb (used with object)

to take in and incorporate as one's own; absorb: He assimilated many new experiences on his European trip.

to bring into conformity with the customs, attitudes, etc., of a group, nation, or the like; adapt or adjust: to assimilate the new immigrants.

Physiology. to convert (food) to substances suitable for incorporation into the body and its tissues.

to cause to resemble (usually followed by to or with ).

to compare; liken (usually followed by to or with ).

Phonetics. to modify by assimilation.

verb (used without object)

to be or become absorbed.

to conform or adjust to the customs, attitudes, etc., of a group, nation, or the like: The new arrivals assimilated easily and quickly.

Physiology. (of food) to be converted into the substance of the body; be absorbed into the system.

10.

to bear a resemblance (usually followed by to or with ).

11.

Phonetics. to become modified by assimilation.

00:10

Assimilate is always a great word to know.

So is oxygen debt. Does it mean:

a period of sleep during which most dreaming occurs as the eyes move under closed lids and the skeletal muscles are deeply relaxed

the body's oxygen deficiency resulting from strenuous physical activity

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noun

12.

something that is assimilated.

Origin:
1570–80; < Latin assimilātus likened to, made like (past participle of assimilāre), equivalent to as- as- + simil- (see similar) + -ātus -ate¹

Related forms

as·sim·i·la·tor, noun

non·as·sim·i·lat·ing, adjective

re·as·sim·i·late, verb, re·as·sim·i·lat·ed, re·as·sim·i·lat·ing.

un·as·sim·i·lat·ed, adjective

un·as·sim·i·lat·ing, adjective

well-as·sim·i·lat·ed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Link To assimilate

Collins

World English Dictionary

assimilate (əˈsɪmɪˌleɪt)

—vb (usually foll by into or with) (usually foll by to or with)
1.	(tr) to learn (information, a procedure, etc) and understand it thoroughly
2.	(tr) to absorb (food) and incorporate it into the body tissues
3.	(intr) to become absorbed, incorporated, or learned and understood
4.	to bring or come into harmony; adjust or become adjusted: the new immigrants assimilated easily
5.	to become or cause to become similar
6.	(usually foll by to) phonetics to change (a consonant) or (of a consonant) to be changed into another under the influence of one adjacent to it: (n) often assimilates to before (k), as in ``include''

[C15: from Latin assimilāre to make one thing like another, from similis like, similar]

as'similable

—*adj*

as'similably

—*adv*

assimi'lation

—n

as'similative

—*adj*

as'similatory

—*adj*

as'similator

—n

as'similatively

—*adv*

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline

Word Origin & History

assimilate

1520s, from L. assimilatus, pp. of assimilare "to make like," from ad- "to" + simulare "make similar," from similis "like, resembling" (see similar). Originally trans. (with to); intrans. use first recorded 1837.

American Heritage

Medical Dictionary

assimilate as·sim·i·late (ə-sĭm'ə-lāt')
v. as·sim·i·lat·ed, as·sim·i·lat·ing, as·sim·i·lates

To consume and incorporate nutrients into the body after digestion.
To transform food into living tissue by the process of anabolism.

Example sentences

Regular reading and thinking about the style and mechanics will help you

assimilate important language skills.

Cultures lacking depth are more easily able to assimilate newcomers.

He found it impossible to quickly assimilate the information.

Nearly 2 generations later they are pretty much assimilated.

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Matching Quote

"... to be successful a person must attempt but one reform. By urging two, both are injured, as the average mind can grasp and assimilate but one idea at a time."

-Susan B. Anthony