To assimilate something means to take it in and make it part of yourself. When you read a book about ancient Egypt and really understand it, you assimilate that knowledge: it becomes part of what you know, integrated with everything else you've learned. Your brain has processed the information and connected it to other things you understand.

Scientists use this word to describe how living things process what they need. When you eat an apple, your body breaks it down and assimilates the nutrients, turning them into energy and materials your body can use. The apple becomes part of you.

The word also describes how people adapt to new cultures or communities. When families move to a new country, they might assimilate by learning the language, making friends, and understanding local customs while still keeping parts of their original culture too. A new student assimilates into a classroom by learning the routines, understanding inside jokes, and figuring out how things work.

Assimilate suggests a deeper process than copying or collecting: it involves genuine understanding and integration. When you truly assimilate a new skill like playing chess or solving equations, you understand the patterns and can use them in new situations. The knowledge has become yours.