American Dictionary of the English Language

ASSIM'ILATE, verb transitive [Latin assimilo, of ad and similis, like. See Similar.]

1. To bring to a likeness; to cause to resemble.

2. To convert into a like substance; as, food is assimilated by conversion into animal substances, flesh, chyle, blood, etc.

ASSIM'ILATE, verb intransitive

1. To become similar.

2. To be converted into a like substance.