The word "assimilate" means to absorb or integrate people, ideas, or cultures into a larger group or system. It often refers to how individuals or groups adopt the customs, values, or knowledge of another culture or society. In a broader sense, it can also describe the process of understanding or fully comprehending new information or experiences.
The word "assimilate" comes from the Latin term "assimulatus," which means "made similar." It is derived from "ad-" meaning "to" and "similis" meaning "similar." The evolution of the term reflects the process of making something similar or integrating it into a larger context.