— embedment , n.
/em bed"/ , v. , embedded, embedding .
v.t.
1. to fix into a surrounding mass: to embed stones in cement.
2. to surround tightly or firmly; envelop or enclose: Thick cotton padding embedded the precious vase in its box.
3. to incorporate or contain as an essential part or characteristic: A love of color is embedded in all of her paintings.
4. Histol. to infiltrate (a biological tissue) with molten paraffin or other plastic material that later solidifies, enabling the preparation to be sliced very thin for viewing under a microscope.
5. Math. to map a set into another set.
6. Gram. to insert (a construction, as a phrase or clause) into a larger construction, as a clause or sentence.
v.i.
7. to be or become fixed or incorporated, as into a surrounding mass: Glass embeds in the soft tar of the road.
Also, imbed .
[ 1770-80; EM- 1 + BED ]