Dictionary
1assimilate
verb as·sim·i·late \ə-ˈsi-mə-ˌlāt\
: to learn (something) so that it is fully understood and can be used
: to cause (a person or group) to become part of a different society, country, etc.
: to adopt the ways of another culture : to fully become part of a different society, country, etc.
as·sim·i·lat·edas·sim·i·lat·ing
Full Definition of ASSIMILATE
transitive verb
1
a : to take in and utilize as nourishment : absorb into the system b : to take into the mind and thoroughly comprehend
2
a : to make similar b : to alter by assimilation c : to absorb into the culture or mores of a population or group
intransitive verb
: to be taken in or absorbed : to become assimilated
— as·sim·i·la·tor \-ˌlā-tər\ noun
See assimilate defined for English-language learners
See assimilate defined for kids
Usage Discussion of ASSIMILATE
When assimilate is followed by a preposition, transitive senses 2a and 2c commonly take to and into and less frequently with; 2b regularly takes to; sense 3 most often takes to and sometimes with. The most frequent prepositions used with the intransitive sense are to and into.
ADVERTISEMENT
Examples of ASSIMILATE
- Over time, most of the inhabitants of the “Little Italies” … assimilated rapidly to the society … —Stephan Thernstrom, Times Literary Supplement, 26 May 2000
- Those groups were eagerly assimilating into the larger culture and rejecting their own cuisine … —Corby Kummer, New York Times Book Review, 16 Aug. 1998
- The mistaken attempts to assimilate Lindner's paintings into the Pop Art movement in the 1960s … —Hilton Kramer, Arts & Antiques, January 1997
- [+]more
Origin of ASSIMILATE
Middle English, from Medieval Latin assimilatus, past participle of assimilare, from Latin assimulare to make similar, from ad- + simulare to make similar, simulate
First Known Use: 15th century
Rhymes with ASSIMILATE
abbreviate, abominate, accelerate, accentuate, accommodate, acculturate, accumulate, adjudicate, adulterate, affiliate, agglomerate, alienate, alleviate, alliterate, amalgamate, ameliorate, amyl nitrate, annihilate, annunciate, anticipate, apostolate, appreciate, appropriate, approximate, arpeggiate, articulate, asphyxiate, assassinate, asseverate, associate, at any rate, attenuate, authenticate, barbiturate, bicarbonate, calumniate, capacitate, capitulate, catholicate, certificate, coagulate, coelenterate, collaborate, commemorate, commiserate, communicate, compassionate, concatenate, conciliate, confabulate, confederate, conglomerate, congratulate, consolidate, contaminate, cooperate, coordinate, corroborate, deactivate, debilitate, decapitate, decelerate, decerebrate, deconcentrate, deconsecrate, decorticate, decrepitate, de-escalate, defibrinate, defoliate, degenerate, deliberate, delineate, demodulate, denominate, depopulate, depreciate, deracinate, deregulate, desegregate, desiderate, detoxicate, devaluate, diaconate, dilapidate, discriminate, disintegrate, disseminate, dissimulate, dissociate, domesticate, effectuate, ejaculate, elaborate, electroplate, eliminate, elucidate, emaciate, emancipate, emasculate, encapsulate, enumerate, enunciate, episcopate, equivocate, eradicate, etiolate, evacuate, evaluate, evaporate, eventuate, eviscerate, exacerbate, exaggerate, exasperate, excited state, excogitate, excoriate, exfoliate, exhilarate, exonerate, expatiate, expatriate, expectorate, expostulate, expropriate, extenuate, exterminate, extrapolate, facilitate, felicitate, fish or cut bait, garrison state, gesticulate, habilitate, habituate, hallucinate, humiliate, hydrogenate, hypothecate, illuminate, impersonate, inactivate, inaugurate, incarcerate, incinerate, incorporate, incriminate, indoctrinate, inebriate, infatuate, infuriate, ingratiate, ingurgitate, initiate, inoculate, inseminate, insinuate, instantiate, intercalate, interpolate, interrelate, interrogate, intimidate, intoxicate, invalidate, investigate, invigorate, irradiate, Italianate, Korea Strait, lanceolate, legitimate, luxuriate, mandarinate, manipulate, matriarchate, matriculate, Merthiolate, necessitate, negotiate, noncandidate, obliterate, officiate, Orange Free State, orientate, originate, oxygenate, participate, particulate, patriarchate, patriciate, perambulate, peregrinate, perpetuate, pontificate, precipitate, predestinate, predominate, prefabricate, premeditate, preponderate, prevaricate, procrastinate, prognosticate, proliferate, propitiate, proportionate, quadruplicate, quintuplicate, reciprocate, recriminate, recuperate, redecorate, reduplicate, reeducate, refrigerate, regenerate, regurgitate, reincarnate, reintegrate, reiterate, rejuvenate, remunerate, repatriate, repudiate, resuscitate, retaliate, reticulate, revaluate, reverberate, scholasticate, second estate, self-flagellate, self-immolate, self-pollinate, seventy-eight, sextuplicate, Singapore Strait, sophisticate, subordinate, substantiate, syllabicate, tergiversate, transliterate, triangulate, vanity plate, variegate, vaticinate, vituperate, vociferate
2assimilate
noun as·sim·i·late \ə-ˈsi-mə-lət, -ˌlāt\
Definition of ASSIMILATE
: something that is assimilated (see 1assimilate)
Origin of ASSIMILATE
(see 1assimilate)
First Known Use: 1935
Other Biology Terms
ASSIMILATED Defined for Kids
assimilate
verb as·sim·i·late \ə-ˈsi-mə-ˌlāt\
as·sim·i·lat·edas·sim·i·lat·ing
Definition of ASSIMILATE for Kids
1
: to become or cause to become part of a different group or country <She was completely assimilated into her new country.>
2
: to take in and make part of a larger thing <The body assimilates nutrients in food.>
3
: to learn thoroughly <assimilate new ideas>
Learn More About ASSIMILATE
Browse
Next Word in the Dictionary: assimilationPrevious Word in the Dictionary: assimilableAll Words Near: assimilate
ADVERTISEMENT
Seen & Heard
What made you want to look up assimilate? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).