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.
Derivatives:
assimilable adj. assimilation n. assimilative adj. assimilator n. assimilatory adj.
Etymology: ME f. L assimilare (as AD-, similis like)