11 results for: assimilate

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

as·sim·i·late

Audio Help [v. uh-sim-uh-leyt; n. uh-sim-uh-lit, -leyt] Pronunciation Key verb, -lat·ed, -lat·ing, noun

–verb (used with object)

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

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

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

4.	to cause to resemble (usually fol. by to or with).

5.	to compare; liken (usually fol. by to or with).

6.	Phonetics. to modify by assimilation.

–verb (used without object)

7.	to be or become absorbed.

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

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

10.	to bear a resemblance (usually fol. by to or with).

11.	Phonetics. to become modified by assimilation.

–noun

12.	something that is assimilated.

[Origin: 1570–80; < L assimilātus likened to, made like (ptp. of assimilāre), equiv. to as- as- + simil- (see similar) + -ātus -ate¹

]

—Related forms

as·sim·i·la·tor, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
assimilate

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

as·sim·i·late Audio Help   (ə-sĭm'ə-lāt') Pronunciation Key
v.   as·sim·i·lat·ed, as·sim·i·lat·ing, as·sim·i·lates

v.   tr.

Physiology
1. To consume and incorporate (nutrients) into the body after digestion.
2. To transform (food) into living tissue by the process of anabolism; metabolize constructively.
To incorporate and absorb into the mind: assimilate knowledge.
To make similar; cause to resemble.
Linguistics To alter (a sound) by assimilation.
To absorb (immigrants or a culturally distinct group) into the prevailing culture.

v. intr.
To become assimilated.

[Middle English assimilaten, from Latin assimilāre, assimilāt-, to make similar to : ad-, ad- + similis, like; see sem-¹ in Indo-European roots.]

as·sim'i·la'tor n.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
assimilate

1528 (implied in assimilative), 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.

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

assimilate
verb
1.	take up mentally; "he absorbed the knowledge or beliefs of his tribe" [syn: absorb]
2.	become similar to one's environment; "Immigrants often want to assimilate quickly" [ant: dissimilate]
3.	make similar; "This country assimilates immigrants very quickly" [ant: dissimilate]
4.	take (gas, light or heat) into a solution
5.	become similar in sound; "The nasal assimilates to the following consonant" [ant: dissimilate]

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary (Beta Version) - Cite This Source - Share This
assimilate [əˈsiməleit] verb

to take in and digest
Example: Plants assimilate food from the earth; I can't assimilate all these facts at once.

Arabic:	يُمَثِّل الطَّعَام بَعد هَضْمِه
Chinese (Simplified):	吸收
Chinese (Traditional):	吸收
Czech:	přijímat, strávit
Danish:	optage; assimilere
Dutch:	assimileren
Estonian:	omastama
Finnish:	yhteyttää, sulattaa
French:	assimiler
German:	aufnehmen
Greek:	αφομοιώνω
Hungarian:	feldolgoz, asszimilál
Icelandic:	melta; tileinka sér
Indonesian:	mencernakan, menerima
Italian:	assimilare

Japanese:	同化吸収する
Korean:	동화하다, 융합하다
Latvian:	asimilēt
Lithuanian:	įsisavinti
Norwegian:	ta opp, *inn, assimilere
Polish:	przyswajać
Portuguese (Brazil):	assimilar
Portuguese (Portugal):	assimilar
Romanian:	a asimila; a înţelege
Russian:	усваивать
Slovak:	asimilovať
Slovenian:	vsrkati, prebaviti
Spanish:	asimilar
Swedish:	assimilera, uppta, tillgodogöra sig
Turkish:	sindirmek, özümlemek, anlayıp kavramak

American Heritage Stedman's Medical Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

as·sim·i·late (-sm-lt)
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.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Main Entry: ¹as·sim·i·late
Pronunciation: &-'sim-&-"lAt
Function: verb
Inflected Forms: -lat·ed; -lat·ing
transitive senses
1 : to take in and appropriate as nourishment : absorb into the system
2 : to absorb into the cultural tradition of a population or group <the community assimilated many immigrants> assimilate intransitive senses
1 : to become absorbed or incorporated into the system <some foods assimilate more readily than others>
2 : to become culturally assimilated

Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Main Entry: ²as·sim·i·late
Pronunciation: -l&t, -"lAt
Function: noun
: something that is assimilated

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Assimilate

As*sem"ble\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Assembled; p. pr. & vb. n. Assembling.] [F. assembler, fr. LL. assimulare to bring together to collect; L. ad + simul together; akin to similis like, Gr. ? at the same time, and E. same. Cf. Assimilate, Same.] To collect into one place or body; to bring or call together; to convene; to congregate.

Thither he assembled all his train. --Milton.

All the men of Israel assembled themselves. --1 Kings viii. 2.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Assimilate

As*sim"i*late\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Assimilated; p. pr. & vb. n. Assimilating.] [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?e. [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.

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