as|sim|i|late

as|sim|i|late «uh SIHM uh layt», verb, -lat|ed, -lat|ing, noun.

–v.t.

1. a) to change (food) into living tissues; digest: »

The human body will not assimilate sawdust.

b) Figurative. to take in and make a part oneself; absorb: »

She reads so much that she does not assimilate it all.

SYNONYM(S): See syn. under absorb. (Cf. ↑absorb)

2. to make like the people of a nation or other group in customs, viewpoint, character, or other attribute: »

We have assimilated immigrants from many lands. By living a long time with the Indians, he was assimilated to them in his thinking and actions.

SYNONYM(S): incorporate.

3. to make (a speech sound, usually a consonant) more like the sound which follows or precedes. SYNONYM(S): adapt. Consonants are frequently assimilated to neighboring consonants; ads- becomes ass-; comr-, corr-; disf-, diff-. See also assimilation, def. 4. (Cf. ↑assimilation)

–v.i.

1. a) to be changed into living tissue; be digested: »

The woody fibers of plants will not assimilate into the human body.

b) Figurative. to be taken into oneself; absorb: »

After he has watched television all day, nothing will assimilate through his senses.

2. to become like the people of a nation, or other group in customs, viewpoint, character, or other attribute: »

Many immigrants assimilate readily in this country.

3. to become like.

–n.

Obsolete. that which is like.

╂[< Latin assimilāre (with English -ate¹), variant of assimulāre compare < ad- to + simulāre imitate]

–as|sim´i|la´tor, noun.