Definition of "assimilate" in English

verb

1. (transitive) To incorporate nutrients into the body, especially after digestion.

   • Food is assimilated and converted into organic tissue.

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.

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.

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.

adjective

1. (as a participle) Assimilated.

2. Similar, like, the same as.

noun

1. Something that is or has been assimilated.

2. (obsolete) Something that is like, similar to another.