DISSIMILATE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does dissimilate mean? 

• DISSIMILATE (verb)
  The verb DISSIMILATE has 3 senses:

1. become dissimilar by changing the sound qualities

2. make dissimilar; cause to become less similar

3. become dissimilar or less similar

  Familiarity information: DISSIMILATE used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DISSIMILATE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they dissimilate    ... he / she / it dissimilates   
Past simple: dissimilated   
Past participle: dissimilated   
-ing form: dissimilating   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Become dissimilar by changing the sound qualities

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Context example:

These consonants dissimilate

Hypernyms (to "dissimilate" is one way to...):

change (undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature)

Domain category:

phonetics (the branch of acoustics concerned with speech processes including its production and perception and acoustic analysis)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Something is ----ing PP

Antonym:

assimilate (become similar in sound)

Derivation:

dissimilation (a linguistic process by which one of two similar sounds in a word becomes less like the other)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Make dissimilar; cause to become less similar

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "dissimilate" is one way to...):

alter; change; modify (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something PP

Antonym:

assimilate (make similar)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Become dissimilar or less similar

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Context example:

These two related tribes of people gradually dissimilated over time

Hypernyms (to "dissimilate" is one way to...):

change (undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "dissimilate"):

differentiate (become distinct and acquire a different character)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Antonym:

assimilate (become similar to one's environment)

Derivation:

dissimilation (a linguistic process by which one of two similar sounds in a word becomes less like the other)