assimilation
UK: əˌsɪmɪˈleɪʃən | US: əˌsɪməˈleɪʃən
n. the process of absorbing and integrating people, ideas, or culture into a wider society or group
n. (linguistics) the process by which a sound becomes similar to an adjacent sound
n. (biology) the conversion of nutrients into usable forms within an organism
The word assimilation traces back to Latin assimilatio, derived from assimilare ("to make similar"). The prefix ad- (meaning "to") merged with similis ("same") to form assimilare, reflecting the idea of "bringing something into likeness." Over time, the term expanded to describe cultural, linguistic, and biological processes of integration or adaptation. The core logic revolves around the transformation of one entity to resemble another.
Cultural assimilation often involves adopting the customs of a dominant society.
In phonetics, assimilation occurs when a /n/ sound becomes /m/ before a labial consonant, as in "impossible."
Plants rely on the assimilation of sunlight for photosynthesis.
The immigrant community faced pressure for rapid assimilation into the new culture.
Linguistic assimilation can simplify pronunciation in fast speech.