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assimilation (n.)

early 15c., "act of assimilating," in reference to The Body's use of nutrition, from Old French assimilacion, from Latin assimilationem (nominative assimilatio) "likeness, similarity," noun of action from past-participle stem of assimilare "to make like" (see assimilate). 

Meaning "process of becoming alike or identical, conversion into a similar substance" is from 1620s. 

Figurative use from 1790. 

Psychological sense is from 1855.

Entries linking to assimilation

assimilate (v.)

early 15c., in physiology, "absorb into and make part of The Body," from Latin assimilatus, past participle of assimilare, assimulare "to make like, copy, imitate, assume the form of; feign, pretend," from assimilated form of ad "to" (see ad-) + simulare "make similar," from similis "like, resembling, of the same kind" (see similar). 

Meaning "make alike, cause to resemble," and intransitive sense "become incorporated into" are from 1620s. In linguistics, "bring into accordance or agreement in speech," from 1854. 

Related: Assimilated; assimilating.

assimilationist (n.)

"one who advocates racial or ethnic integration," 1900, originally in reference to Hawaii and possessions obtained by the U.S. in the war against Spain; later with reference to Jews in European nations; see assimilation + -ist. 

In Portuguese, assimilado (literally "assimilated," past participle of assimilar) was used as a noun of natives of the Portuguese colonies in Africa who were admitted to equal rights and citizenship.

malassimilation (n.)

also mal-assimilation, "faulty digestion, imperfect nutrition," 1840, from mal- + assimilation.

Definitions of assimilation from WordNet

assimilation (n.)

the state of being assimilated; people of different backgrounds come to see themselves as part of a larger national family;

assimilation (n.)

the social process of absorbing one cultural group into harmony with another;

Synonyms: absorption

assimilation (n.)

the process of absorbing nutrients into the body after digestion;

Synonyms : absorption

assimilation (n.)

a linguistic process by which a sound becomes similar to an adjacent sound;

assimilation (n.)

the process of assimilating new ideas into an existing cognitive structure;

Synonyms: acculturation

assimilation (n.)

in the theories of Jean Piaget : 

The application of a general schema to a particular instance;

From wordnet.princeton.edu, not affiliated with etymonline.

Dictionary entries near assimilation

assignation

assignee

assignment