as·sim·i·late 
(ə-sĭmə-lāt′)
(ə-sĭmə-lāt′)v. as·sim·i·lat·ed, as·sim·i·lat·ing, as·sim·i·lates
v.tr.
1. Physiology
a. To consume and incorporate (nutrients) into the body after digestion.
b. To transform (food) into living tissue by the process of anabolism; metabolize constructively.
2. To incorporate and absorb into the mind: assimilate knowledge.
3. To make similar; cause to resemble.
4. Linguistics To alter (a sound) by assimilation.
5. To absorb (immigrants or a culturally distinct group) into the prevailing culture.
v.intr.
To become assimilated.
[Middle English assimilaten, from Latin assimilāre, assimilāt-, to make similar to : ad-, ad- + similis, like; see sem-1 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]
as·simi·la′tor n.