assemble

¹

[uh-sem-buhl]

verb (used with object)

assembled, assembling 

1. to bring together or gather into one place, company, body, or whole.

   Synonyms: convoke, convene
   Antonyms: disperse

2. to put or fit together; put together the parts of.

   to assemble information for a report; to assemble a toy from a kit.

   Synonyms: connect

3. Computers.,  compile.

verb (used without object)

assembled, assembling 

1. to come together; gather; meet.

   We assembled in the auditorium.

   Synonyms: convene, congregate
   Antonyms: disperse

assemblé

²

[a-sahn-bley]

noun

Ballet.

plural

assemblés 

1. a jump in which the dancer throws one leg up, springs off the other, and lands with both feet together.

assemble

¹

/ əˈsɛmbəl /

verb

1. to come or bring together; collect or congregate

2. to fit or join together (the parts of something, such as a machine)

   to assemble the parts of a kit

3. to run (a computer program) that converts a set of symbolic data, usually in the form of specific single-step instructions, into machine language

assemblé

²

/ asɑ̃ble /

noun

1. ballet a sideways leap in which the feet come together in the air in preparation for landing

Word History and Origins

Origin of assemble¹

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English, from Old French assembler, from Vulgar Latin assimulāre (unrecorded) “to bring together,” from Latin as- as- + simul “together” ( simultaneous ) + -āre, infinitive verb suffix

Origin of assemble²

First recorded in 1820–30; from French, past participle of assembler; assemble

Word History and Origins

Origin of assemble¹

C13: from Old French assembler, from Vulgar Latin assimulāre (unattested) to bring together, from Latin simul together

Origin of assemble²

literally: brought together

Synonym Study

See gather. See manufacture.

Example Sentences

But from the beginning, the team he assembled has been besieged by a series of internal disputes.

Read more on Salon

The St. Louis workers are striking after last year’s contract for 33,000 machinists who assemble Boeing’s commercial aircraft in the Pacific Northwest.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

To explore the issue, Endres applied principles from information theory and algorithmic complexity to estimate what it would take for the first simple cell, known as a protocell, to assemble itself from basic chemical ingredients.

Read more on Science Daily

Her most popular package today is her smallest, which costs $325, comes with about 20 pumpkins and takes her six minutes to assemble into a display.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

While U.S. officials have emphasized there will be no American soldiers on the ground in Gaza, it is assembling an international stabilization force of partner countries.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• compile 
• construct 
• erect 
• fit 
• form 
• join 
• manufacture 
• produce 
• set up 

When To Use

What does assemble mean?

Assemble means to bring together in one place, as in I assembled all of the ingredients for a chocolate cake on the table.Assemble can also mean to put or fit things together, as in Ikea is known for selling furniture that you have to assemble. And assemble can mean to come together or meet up, as in The school staff assembled for a meeting. When used generally, assemble can be used as a synonym for words such as gather, collect, and amass. When used specifically, assemble often means gathering things to arrange them in a proper order or placement, as when you assemble all the parts to build a computer.Alternatively, assemble can mean to put things or parts together. This meaning is often used when referring to building or making something, as in Shontel will need to assemble several bookshelves using only a box of wooden planks. In this sense, assemble is often used to refer to fitting manufactured parts together to make a final product or device. For example, a person would assemble a Lego brick set by snapping the parts together.Both assembly and assemblage are used to refer to something that has been assembled, as in The president spoke to an assembly of world leaders. Example: She assembled a team of scientists so they could all work together on the secret project.