assimilate

• POS: Verb (intransitive), Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: as=sim=i=late

CIDE DICTIONARY

assimilate, v. t. [L. assimilatus, p. p. of assimilare; ad + similare to make like, similis like. See Similar, Assemble, Assimilate.].

•  To bring to a likeness or to conformity; to cause a resemblance between.  Sir M. Hale.  [1913 Webster]

  "To assimilate our law to the law of Scotland."  [1913 Webster]

  "Fast falls a fleecy; the downy flakes
  Assimilate all objects."  [1913 Webster]
•  To liken; to compa1913 Webster]
•  To appropriate and transform or incorporate into the substance of the assimilating body; to absorb or appropriate, as nourishment; as, food is assimilated and converted into organic tissue.  [1913 Webster]

  "Hence also animals and vegetables may assimilate their nourishment."  [1913 Webster]

  "His mind had no power to assimilate the lessons."  [1913 Webster]

assimilate, v. i. 

•  To become similar or like something else.  [1913 Webster]
•  To change and appropriate nourishment so as to make it a part of the substance of the assimilating body.  [1913 Webster]

  "Aliment easily assimilated or turned into blood."  [1913 Webster]
•  To be converted into the substance of the assimilating body; to become incorporated; as, some kinds of food assimilate more readily than others.  [1913 Webster]

  "I am a foreign material, and cannot assimilate with the church of England."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

assimilate, v.
1 tr. a absorb and digest (food etc.) into the body. b absorb (information etc.) into the mind. c absorb (people) into a larger group.
2 tr. (usu. foll. by to, with) make like; cause to resemble.
3 tr. Phonet. make (a sound) more like another in the same or next word.
4 intr. be absorbed into the body, mind, or a larger group.

Derivative

assimilable adj. assimilation n. assimilative adj. assimilator n. assimilatory adj.

Etymology

ME f. L assimilare (as AD-, similis like)

THESAURUS

assimilate

Americanize, Anglicize, ablate, absorb, accommodate, accommodate with, accord, acculturate, acculturize, adapt, adapt to, add, adjust, adjust to, admit, adopt, adsorb, affiliate, agree with, amalgamate, analogize, appreciate, apprehend, appropriate, approximate, assimilate, assimilate to, attune, balance, be guided by, be with one, become, bend, bleed white, blend, blot, blot up, bring into analogy, bring into comparison, bring near, bring to, burn up, catch, catch on, change, change into, change over, chemisorb, chemosorb, chime in with, coalesce, combine, come together, compare, compare and contrast, compare with, complete, comply, comply with, compose, compound, comprehend, comprise, conceive, confer citizenship, conform, confront, connaturalize, connect, consolidate, consume, contain, contrast, convert, coordinate, corner, correct, correspond, count in, counterpose, cover, cut to, damp, deplete, dig, digest, discipline, do over, drain, drain of resources, draw a comparison, draw a parallel, drink, drink in, drink up, eat, eat up, embody, embrace, encircle, enclose, encompass, engross, envisage, equalize, equilibrize, erode, espouse, even, exhaust, expend, fall in with, fathom, fill, fill in, fill out, filter in, finish, finish off, fit, fix, flatten, flux, follow, fuse, gear to, get, get hold of, get the drift, get the idea, get the picture, go by, go native, gobble, gobble up, grasp, harmonize, have, have it taped, hold, homogenize, homologate, homologize, imbibe, imbue, impoverish, include, incorporate, infiltrate, infuse, ingest, ingrain, inoculate, integrate, interblend, interfuse, join, ken, key to, know, learn, leaven, level, liken, liken to, lump together, make, make conform, make one, make over, make plumb, make uniform, master, match, measure, measure against, meet, meld, melt into one, merge, metabolize, metaphorize, mix, mold, monopolize, naturalize, normalize, number among, observe, occupy, oppose, osmose, paragon, parallel, percolate in, place against, predigest, proportion, put in tune, put together, read, realize, receive, reckon among, reckon in, reckon with, reconcile, reconvert, rectify, reduce to, reembody, regularize, regulate, relate, render, resolve into, reverse, right, roll into one, rub off corners, run a comparison, savvy, seep in, seize, seize the meaning, sense, set, set in contrast, set in opposition, set off against, set over against, set right, settle, shade into, shape, shift, similarize, similize, slurp up, smooth, soak in, soak up, solidify, sorb, spend, sponge, squander, stabilize, standardize, stereotype, straighten, suck dry, suffuse, suit, swallow, swallow up, swill up, switch, switch over, symmetrize, sync, synchronize, syncretize, syndicate, synthesize, tailor, take, take in, take into account, take into consideration, take up, tally with, transform, trim to, true, true up, tune, turn back, turn into, understand, uniformize, unify, unite, use up, view together, waste away, wear away, weigh, weigh against, yield

ROGET THESAURUS

assimilate

Uniformity

VB be uniform, accord with, run through, become uniform, conform to, render uniform, homogenize, assimilate, level, smooth, dress.

Similarity

VB be similar, look like, resemble, bear resemblance, smack of, savor of, approximate, parallel, match, rhyme with, take after, imitate, favor, span, render similar, assimilate, approximate, bring near, connaturalize, make alike, rhyme, pun.

Agreement

VB be accordant, agree, accord, harmonize, correspond, tally, respond, meet, suit, fit, befit, do, adapt itself to, fall in with, chime in with, square with, quadrate with, consort with, comport with, dovetail, assimilate, fit like a glove, fit to a tittle, fit to a T, match, become one, homologate, consent, render accordant, fit, suit, adapt, accommodate, graduate, adjust, dress, regulate, readjust, accord, harmonize, reconcile, fadge, dovetail, square.

Salubrity

VB be salubrious, agree with, assimilate.