To migrate means to move from one place to another, usually on a regular schedule or for an important reason. Many animals migrate with the seasons: birds fly south for the winter when food becomes scarce up north, then return in spring. Monarch butterflies migrate thousands of miles from Canada to Mexico each fall, and caribou migrate across the Arctic tundra following their food sources.

People migrate too, though we usually call it migration when large groups move together or when the move is permanent. Families might migrate to a new country seeking better opportunities or safety. Throughout history, millions of people have migrated across continents, bringing their languages, foods, and traditions to new places.

In technology, migrate means moving data or programs from one computer system to another. Your school might migrate its files to a new server, or you might migrate your photos from an old tablet to a new one.

Whether it's geese flying in a V-formation toward warmer weather or your family moving to a new state for a parent's job, migration involves leaving one home and traveling to another.