— migrator , n.
/muy"grayt/ , v.i. , migrated, migrating .
1. to go from one country, region, or place to another.
2. to pass periodically from one region or climate to another, as certain birds, fishes, and animals: The birds migrate southward in the winter.
3. to shift, as from one system, mode of operation, or enterprise to another.
4. Physiol. (of a cell, tissue, etc.) to move from one region of the body to another, as in embryonic development.
5. Chem.
a. (of ions) to move toward an electrode during electrolysis.
b. (of atoms within a molecule) to change position.
6. (at British universities) to change or transfer from one college to another.
[ 1690-1700; migratus (ptp. of migrare to move from place to place, change position or abode), equiv. to migra- v. s. + -tus ptp. suffix ]
Syn. 1. move, resettle. MIGRATE, EMIGRATE, IMMIGRATE are used of changing one's abode from one country or part of a country to another. To MIGRATE is to make such a move either once or repeatedly: to migrate from Ireland to the United States. To EMIGRATE is to leave a country, usually one's own (and take up residence in another): Each year many people emigrate from Europe. To IMMIGRATE is to enter and settle in a country not one's own: There are many inducements to immigrate to South America. MIGRATE is applied both to people or to animals that move from one region to another, esp. periodically; the other terms are generally applied to movements of people.
Ant. 1. remain.