verb (used without object),mi·grat·ed,mi·grat·ing.
to go from one country, region, or place to another.
to pass periodically from one region or climate to another, as certain birds, fishes, and animals: The birds migrate southward in the winter.
to shift, as from one system, mode of operation, or enterprise to another.
Physiology. (of a cell, tissue, etc.) to move from one region of the body to another, as in embryonic development.
Chemistry.
(of ions) to move toward an electrode during electrolysis.
(of atoms within a molecule) to change position.
(at British universities) to change or transfer from one college to another.
Origin of migrate
1690–1700; < Latinmigrātus (past participle of migrāre to move from place to place, change position or abode), equivalent to migrā- verb stem + -tus past participle suffix
Related formsmi·gra·tor, nounin·ter·mi·grate, verb (used without object),in·ter·mi·grat·ed,in·ter·mi·grat·ing.non·mi·grat·ing, adjective, nounre·mi·grate, verb (used without object),re·mi·grat·ed,re·mi·grat·ing.un·mi·grat·ing, adjectiveCan be confusedemigrateimmigratemigrate (see synonym study at the current entry)
Synonym study
1. Migrate,emigrate,immigrate are used of changing one's abode from one country or part of a country to another. To migrate is to make such a move either once or repeatedly: to migrate from Ireland to the United States. To emigrate is to leave a country, usually one's own (and take up residence in another): Each year many people emigrate from Europe. To immigrate is to enter and settle in a country not one's own: There are many inducements to immigrate to South America.Migrate is applied both to people or to animals that move from one region to another, especially periodically; the other terms are generally applied to movements of people.
