assimilate

[ verb uh-sim-uh-leyt; noun uh-sim-uh-lit, -leyt ]
/ verb əˈsɪm əˌleɪt; noun əˈsɪm ə lɪt, -ˌleɪt /

verb (used with object), as·sim·i·lat·ed, as·sim·i·lat·ing.

verb (used without object), as·sim·i·lat·ed, as·sim·i·lat·ing.

noun

something that is assimilated.

Origin of assimilate

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

OTHER WORDS FROM assimilate

Example sentences from the Web for assimilate

British Dictionary definitions for assimilate

assimilate
/ (əˈsɪmɪˌleɪt) /

verb

(tr) to learn (information, a procedure, etc) and understand it thoroughly
(tr) to absorb (food) and incorporate it into the body tissues
(intr) to become absorbed, incorporated, or learned and understood
(usually foll by into or with) to bring or come into harmony; adjust or become adjusted the new immigrants assimilated easily
(usually foll by to or with) to become or cause to become similar
(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 ŋ before (k), as in ``include''

Derived forms of assimilate

Word Origin for assimilate

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

Medical definitions for assimilate

assimilate
[ ə-sĭmə-lāt′ ]

v.

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