assimilate

Etymology

Borrowed from Late Latin assimilātus, variant of Latin assimulātus (“made similar, imitated”), perfect passive participle of assimulō, from ad + simulō (“imitate, copy”), from similis (“like, similar”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *sem- (“together, one”). Doublet of assemble.

verb

1. (transitive) To incorporate nutrients into the body, especially after digestion.
   Food is assimilated and converted into organic tissue.
   In the living state, the body is observed to receive aliment; to assimilate a part; to evacuate what is redundant or useless; … 1822, John Barclay, chapter I, in An Inquiry Into the Opinions, Ancient and Modern, Concerning Life and Organization, Edinburgh, London: Bell & Bradfute; Waugh & Innes; G. & W. B. Whittaker, section I, page 1
2. (transitive) To incorporate or absorb (knowledge) into the mind.
   The teacher paused in her lecture to allow the students to assimilate what she had said.
   His mind had no power to assimilate the lessons. 1850, Charles Merivale, History of the Romans Under the Empire
3. (transitive) To absorb (a person or people) into a community or culture.
   The aliens in the science-fiction film wanted to assimilate human beings into their own race.
4. (transitive, rare, used with "to" or "with") To liken, compare to something similar.
   The use of an animal to kill, wound or threaten is assimilated to the use of a weapon. 2005-10-12, J. R. Spencer, transl., Penal Code [of France], Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, retrieved 2020-01-19, page 25
5. (transitive) To bring to a likeness or to conformity; to cause a resemblance between.
   March 13, 1866, John Bright, The reform bill on the motion for leave to bring in the bill to assimilate our law in respect to the law of Scotland
6. (intransitive) To become similar.
7. (intransitive) To be incorporated or absorbed into something.

noun

1. Something that is or has been assimilated.
   At low light intensity, high temperature delays the first flower initiation, as assimilate supply is limiting and high temperature reduces the amount of assimilate available in the plant[.] 2005, Ep Heuvelink, Tomatoes, page 65
   the growing root and ectomycorrhizas both act as assimilate sinks 2012, A. Läuchli, R.L. Bieleski, Inorganic Plant Nutrition, page 83