as·sim·i·late
(ə-sĭḿə-lāt́)
[Middle English assimilaten, from Latin assimilāre, assimilāt-, to make similar to, ad-, ad-, + similis, like.]
verb: -lat·ed, -lat·ing, -lates.
transitive verb
- Physiology
- To consume and incorporate (nutrients) into the body after digestion.
- 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.
intransitive verb
- To become assimilated.
derivatives
- as·siḿi·látor
- noun