assimilation

UK: /əˌsɪmɪˈleɪʃ^ən/ US: /əˌsɪməˈleɪʃən/ ,(ə sim′ə lā′shən)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

as•sim•i•la•tion  (ə sim′ə lā′shən), n. 

1. the act or process of assimilating; state or condition of being assimilated.
2. Physiology the conversion of absorbed food into the substance of the body.
3. Botany the total process of plant nutrition, including photosynthesis and the absorption of raw materials.
4. Sociology the merging of cultural traits from previously distinct cultural groups, not involving biological amalgamation.

[Phonet.] the act or process by which a sound becomes identical with or similar to a neighboring sound in one or more defining characteristics, as place of articulation, voice or voicelessness, or manner of articulation, as in (gram′pä) for grandpa. Cf. dissimilation (def. 2).

• Latin assimilātiōn- (stem of assimilātiō). See assimilate, -ion
• 1595–1605

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

as•sim•i•late /əˈsɪməˌleɪt/   v., -lat•ed, -lat•ing. 

1. to take in and use as one's own; absorb;
   understand:
   [~ + object] He tried to assimilate new ideas.
2. Sociology
   • [no object] (of a person from a different background) to adjust (oneself) to the dominant cultural group or national culture:
     The immigrants assimilated rapidly.
   • [~ + object (+ into + object)] to bring (people from a different background) into a more dominant cultural group or national culture:
     Guest workers need to be assimilated into that country.
3. • [~ + object] to convert to substances suitable for use:
     to assimilate food.

as•sim•i•la•tion /əˌsɪməˈleɪʃən/  n. [uncountable] See -simil-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

as•sim•i•late  (v. ə sim′ə lāt′;n. ə sim′ə lit, -lāt′), v., -lat•ed, -lat•ing, n. 
v.t. 

1. to take in and incorporate as one's own;
   absorb:
   He assimilated many new experiences on his European trip.
2. Sociology to bring into conformity with the customs, attitudes, etc., of a group, nation, or the like;
   adapt or adjust:
   to assimilate the new immigrants.
3. Physiology to convert (food) to substances suitable for incorporation into the body and its tissues.
4. to cause to resemble (usually fol. by to or with).
5. to compare;
   liken (usually fol. by to or with).
6. Phonetics to modify by assimilation.

v.i. 

7. to be or become absorbed.
8. Sociology to conform or adjust to the customs, attitudes, etc., of a group, nation, or the like:
   The new arrivals assimilated easily and quickly.
9. Physiology (of food) to be converted into the substance of the body;
   be absorbed into the system.
10. to bear a resemblance (usually fol. by to or with).
11. Phonetics to become modified by assimilation.

n. 

12. something that is assimilated.

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

as•sim′i•la′tor, n.