definitions

dissimilation

[ dih-sim-uh-ley-shuh n ]
/ dɪˌsɪm əˈleɪ ʃən /
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR dissimilation ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the act of making or becoming unlike.
Phonetics. the process by which a speech sound becomes different from or less like a neighboring sound, as pilgrim [pil-grim] /ˈpɪl grɪm/ from Latin peregrīnus [per-e-gree-noo s] /ˌpɛr ɛˈgri nʊs/, and purple [pur-puh l] /ˈpɜr pəl/ from Old English purpure [poo r-poo-re] /ˈpʊər pʊ rɛ/, or disappears entirely because of a like sound in another syllable, as in the pronunciation [guhv-uh-ner] /ˈgʌv ə nər/ for governor.Compare assimilation(def 7).
Biology. catabolism.

RELATED WORDS

performance, attitude, show, stance, stunt, put-on, pose, phony, simulation, stall, fake, front, affectation, bit, posture, pretense, sham, feigning, chaser

Nearby words

dissidents, dissilient, dissimilar, dissimilarity, dissimilate, dissimilation, dissimilatory, dissimilitude, dissimulate, dissimulation, dissipate

Origin of dissimilation

First recorded in 1820–30; dis-1 + (as)similation
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for dissimilation

British Dictionary definitions for dissimilation

dissimilation

/ (ˌdɪsɪmɪˈleɪʃən) /

noun

the act or an instance of making dissimilar
phonetics the alteration or omission of a consonant as a result of being dissimilated
biology a less common word for catabolism
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for dissimilation

dissimilation

n.

1874, noun of action from dissimilate.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper