as·sim·i·late [ ə símmi làyt ](past and past participleas·sim·i·lat·ed, present participleas·sim·i·lat·ing, 3rd person present singularas·sim·i·lates)
verb
Definition:
1. transitive and intransitive verb social sciences integrate: to integrate somebody into a larger group, so that differences are minimized or eliminated, or become integrated in this way
2. transitive verb absorb information: to integrate new knowledge or information with what is already known
3. transitive verb physiology absorb nutrients: to incorporate digested food materials into the cells and tissues of the body assimilate protein
4. transitive and intransitive verb phonetics make speech sound like adjacent sound: to make a speech sound similar to an adjacent sound, or to become similar to an adjacent sound
[15th century. < Latin assimilat-, past participle of assimilare "make the same" < similis "like"]
