assimilate
verb
- become similar
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /əˈsɪm.ɪ.leɪt/
adj
Etymology: First attested in the early 15ᵗʰ century, in Middle English; from Middle English assimilat(e) (“made like”, used as the participle of assimilaten), see -ate (adjective-forming suffix) and Etymology 1 for more; the noun was derived from the participle through substantivization, see -ate (noun-forming suffix). Participial usage up until Early Modern English.
- Assimilated.
- Similar, like, the same as.
noun
Etymology: First attested in the early 15ᵗʰ century, in Middle English; from Middle English assimilat(e) (“made like”, used as the participle of assimilaten), see -ate (adjective-forming suffix) and Etymology 1 for more; the noun was derived from the participle through substantivization, see -ate (noun-forming suffix). Participial usage up until Early Modern English.
- Something that is or has been assimilated.
“At low light intensity, high temperature delays the first flower initiation, as assimilate supply is limiting and high temperature reduces the amount of assimilate available in the plant[.]”
“the growing root and ectomycorrhizas both act as assimilate sinks”
- Something that is like, similar to another.
verb
Etymology: First attested in the early 15ᵗʰ century, in Middle English; Middle English assimilaten (“to become similar; to make like”), from assimilat(e) (“assimilated”, also used as the past participal of assimilaten) + -en (verb-forming suffix), borrowed from Late Latin assimilātus, variant of Latin assimulātus (“made similar, imitated”), perfect passive participle of assimulō (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from ad + simulō (“to imitate, copy”), from similis (“like, similar”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *sem- (“together, one”). Doublet of assemble.
- To incorporate nutrients into the body, especially after digestion.
“Food is assimilated and converted into organic tissue.”
“Hence also it may be, that the Parts of Animals and Vegetables preserve their several Forms, and assimilate their Nourishment; [...]”
- To incorporate or absorb (knowledge) into the mind.
“The teacher paused in her lecture to allow the students to assimilate what she had said.”
“His mind had no power to assimilate the lessons.”
- To absorb (a person or people) into a community or culture.
“The aliens in the science-fiction film wanted to assimilate human beings into their own race.”
- To liken, compare to something similar.
“The use of an animal to kill, wound or threaten is assimilated to the use of a weapon.”
- To bring to a likeness or to conformity; to cause a resemblance between.
“March 13, 1866, John Bright, The reform bill on the motion for leave to bring in the bill to assimilate our law in respect to the law of Scotland”
“Fast falls a fleecy shower; the downy flakes / Assimilate all objects.”
- To become similar.
- To be incorporated or absorbed into something.