ASSIMILATION

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does assimilation mean? 

• ASSIMILATION (noun)
  The noun ASSIMILATION has 6 senses:

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

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

3. the process of absorbing nutrients into the body after digestion

4. a linguistic process by which a sound becomes similar to an adjacent sound

5. the process of assimilating new ideas into an existing cognitive structure

6. in the theories of Jean Piaget: the application of a general schema to a particular instance

  Familiarity information: ASSIMILATION used as a noun is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ASSIMILATION (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

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

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Hypernyms ("assimilation" is a kind of...):

relationship (a state involving mutual dealings between people or parties or countries)

Derivation:

assimilate (become similar to one's environment)

assimilate (make similar)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The social process of absorbing one cultural group into harmony with another

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural processes

Synonyms:

absorption; assimilation

Hypernyms ("assimilation" is a kind of...):

social process (a process involved in the formation of groups of persons)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "assimilation"):

Americanisation; Americanization (assimilation into American culture)

Anglicisation; Anglicization (the act of anglicizing; making English in appearance)

Europeanisation; Europeanization (assimilation into European culture)

Westernisation; Westernization (assimilation of Western culture; the social process of becoming familiar with or converting to the customs and practices of Western civilization)

Derivation:

assimilate (become similar to one's environment)

assimilate (make similar)

Sense 3

Meaning:

The process of absorbing nutrients into the body after digestion

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural processes

Synonyms:

absorption; assimilation

Hypernyms ("assimilation" is a kind of...):

biological process; organic process (a process occurring in living organisms)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "assimilation"):

anabolism; constructive metabolism (the synthesis in living organisms of more complex substances (e.g., living tissue) from simpler ones together with the storage of energy)

malabsorption (abnormal absorption of nutrients from the digestive tract)

Derivation:

assimilate (take (gas, light or heat) into a solution)

Sense 4

Meaning:

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

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural processes

Hypernyms ("assimilation" is a kind of...):

linguistic process (a process involved in human language)

Derivation:

assimilate (become similar in sound)

Sense 5

Meaning:

The process of assimilating new ideas into an existing cognitive structure

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

acculturation; assimilation

Hypernyms ("assimilation" is a kind of...):

education (the gradual process of acquiring knowledge)

Derivation:

assimilate (take up mentally)

Sense 6

Meaning:

In the theories of Jean Piaget: the application of a general schema to a particular instance

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Hypernyms ("assimilation" is a kind of...):

developmental learning (learning that takes place as a normal part of cognitive development)

Derivation:

assimilate (take up mentally)

 Context examples 

Nucleoside Analogue Incorporation involves assimilation of nucleoside or nucleotide analogues into DNA or RNA.

(Nucleoside Analogue Incorporation, NCI Thesaurus)

A finding indicating a deficiency or excess in biological absorption or assimilation of iodine.

(Iodine Uptake Alteration, NCI Thesaurus)

.A finding indicating a deficiency or excess in biological absorption or assimilation of one or more electrolytes.

(Electrolyte Absorption Alteration, NCI Thesaurus)

Researchers can then trace cellular assimilation of isotopic tracers, document intracellular biochemical changes, and analyze diverse environmental samples.

(Cell chemistry illuminated by laser light, National Science Foundation)

Amyloid Resorption Induction involves initiation of activities involved in the breakdown and assimilation of amyloid deposits.

(Amyloid Resorption Induction, NCI Thesaurus)

An annotated assembly of genome sequences created by the assimilation of data pieces from numerous sources.

(Genome Assembly Sequence, NCI Thesaurus)

The doctor here will bear me out that on one occasion I tried to kill him for the purpose of strengthening my vital powers by the assimilation with my own body of his life through the medium of his blood—relying, of course, upon the Scriptural phrase, 'For the blood is the life.'

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)