dissimilation

American  

[dih-sim-uh-ley-shuhn] / dɪˌsɪm əˈleɪ ʃən /

noun

1. the act of making or becoming unlike.

2. Phonetics. the process by which a speech sound becomes different from or less like a neighboring sound, as pilgrim from Latin peregrīnus and purple from Old English purpure or disappears entirely because of a like sound in another syllable, as in the pronunciation for governor.

3. Biology. catabolism.

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dissimilation British  

/ ˌdɪsɪmɪˈleɪʃən /

noun

1. the act or an instance of making dissimilar

2. phonetics the alteration or omission of a consonant as a result of being dissimilated

3. biology a less common word for catabolism

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Etymology

Origin of dissimilation

First recorded in 1820–30; dis- ¹ + (as)similation

Example Sentences

The result has been widespread public furor over crime, cultural dissimilation and fears of terrorism.

From The Wall Street Journal

The same group of names is affected by dissimilation, i.e. the instinct to avoid the recurrence of the same sound.

From Project Gutenberg

Sometimes dissimilation leads to the disappearance of a consonant, e.g.,

From Project Gutenberg

We have long had the word ‘assimilation’ in our dictionaries; ‘dissimilation’ has not yet found its way into them, but it speedily will.

From Project Gutenberg

As the brain mediates between sensation and motion, so the vascular system is the go-between of the organs of assimilation and the organs of dissimilation.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• attitude
• performance
• show