ˈyünəˌfī verb
( -ed/-ing/-es )
Etymology: Late Latin unificare, from Latin uni- + -ficare -fy
transitive verb
1.
a. : to cause to be one : make into a coherent group or whole : give unity to : harmonize
war unifies a people torn by rivalries
a unified design
would also be technically possible to unify the world and abolish war — Bertrand Russell
b. : to issue (as bonds) in order to combine several issues into one
a unified bond
2. : to secure (a stop in a pipe organ) by unification
intransitive verb
: to become one : consolidate
Synonyms:
integrate , consolidate , compact , concentrate agree with unify in meaning to gather or combine parts or elements so as to form a close mass or coherent structure. unify , the most general term, emphasizes unity in action or harmony in effect; the elements involved may be similar or diverse; they may be physically close or far apart; things may be unified deliberately or as a result of evolution, but rarely by imposition from without
making only slow progres in unifying the economy of the world — W.S.Thompson
frequently a minority group is unified by persecution
the room, despite its clutter of furniture, was unified by the use of blue in the drapes and the rug
integrate implies a close and harmonious relation both between individual parts and between each part and the whole and has favorable connotation; more than any of the other terms here discussed, it implies a beneficial effect for the components as well as for the whole
an integrated personality
a well-adjusted child is one that is integrated into his group
narrative and background are integrated in their proper proportions — John Barkham
its culture is more stable and better integrated — A.L.Kroeber
consolidate , usually used of things that are alike or homogeneous, originally points to a drawing together or thickening; likewise, in its transferred uses, it implies strengthening through solidarity
organize state leagues for political action in order to consolidate the labor vote — G.S.Watkins
two marriages with the Dutch Vandergraves had consolidated these qualities of thrift and handsome living — Edith Wharton
when used of organizations, corporations, or the like, consolidate suggests close union not only in purpose or effect, but in administration
several agencies were consolidated in one department
the two companies were consolidated under one management
compact , when used of physical objects, means to stick or cake together, reducing the size of the whole by reducing the space between parts
rain compacts the soil
dry, powdered snow is better for skiing than wet snow which is soon compacted
compact in its transferred uses means to shape (a whole) from various parts, joined closely enough to hold together, without any implication as to the balance or harmony of the whole
the loosely compacted hosts of thegns and peasants — F.M.Stenton
compact may, however, imply density, leaving no room for any but the parts mentioned
it is based on solid facts, nay, is compacted of solid facts from the first sentence to the last — Times Literary Supplement
concentrate usually carries the implication of bringing together things or parts that were scattered or diffused and of massing them around a point or center; the emphasis is not so much on unity or integrity of a whole as on accumulation of like elements
people of Scandinavian and German origin are concentrated in the Middle West
the control of the major part of the country's wealth is concentrated in a few hands
figuratively, concentrate means to fix one's mental powers on one thing, so that all distracting thoughts or objects are eliminated
the ability to concentrate on the task at hand is essential to all achievement
a similar implication of eliminating that which weakens, dilutes, or adulterates is found in scientific and technical use
evaporated milk is more concentrated than fresh milk
a miner concentrates ores by separating the base from the precious materials