dissimilate

American  

[dih-sim-uh-leyt] / dɪˈsɪm əˌleɪt /

verb (used with object)

Phonetics.

dissimilated, dissimilating

1. to modify by dissimilation.

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dissimilate British  

/ dɪˈsɪmɪˌleɪt /

verb

1. to make or become dissimilar

2. (usually foll by to) phonetics to change or displace (a consonant) or (of a consonant) to be changed to or displaced by (another consonant) so that its manner of articulation becomes less similar to a speech sound in the same word. Thus (r) in the final syllable of French marbre is dissimilated to (l) in its English form marble

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Other Word Forms

• dissimilative adjective
• dissimilatory adjective

Etymology

Origin of dissimilate

First recorded in 1835–45; dis- ¹ + (as)similate