assign, v. 1. allocate, allot, distribute, pass out, dispense, give, grant, award; apportion, portion out, share, measure out, mete out, dole out, deal out, parcel out; appropriate, set apart, consign, relegate, authorize, legislate.
2. appoint, commission, charge, entrust, commit, depute, delegate; authorize, empower, enable; invest, induct, install, ordain; designate, name, nominate; specify, fix, set, determine, prescribe.
3. ascribe, attribute, accredit with, account to, chalk up to; adduce, bring forward, allege, point out; advance, offer, show, state. assignation, n. 1. appointment, meeting, date, rendezvous, tryst.
2. assignment, task, job, duty. See assignment (def. 1). assignment, n. 1. task, job, duty, obligation, charge, responsibility, lesSon, errand; stint, time, part, share.
2. post, position, appointment, commission.
3. allocation, allotment, distribution, dispensation, apportionment, meting out, doling out; allowance, share, part.
4. designation, naming, nomination; specification, fixing, setting, determination, prescription.
5. ascription, attribution, accreditation, accredit-ment; adduction, allegation, assertion; advance, offer, presentation. assimilate, v. 1. incorporate, take in, absorb, appropriate, make one's own; (usu. of food) digest, transform, convert, resolve into.
2. Usu. assimilate to or with adapt, adjust, accustom, acclimate, acclimatize, acculturize, Sociol. ac-culturate, naturalize; amalgamate, mingle, commingle, intermix, mix, combine with; homogenize, make similar or homogeneous; blend in, merge with, melt into; become one with, become similar, conform, fit, accommodate.
assimilation, n. 1. (often of food) digestion, con version, transformation, absorption, incorporation, Both Biol., Physiol, anabolism, constructive metabolism.
2. adjustment, accommodation, adaptation; naturalization, acclimation, acclimatization, Sociol. acculturation; homogenization, leveling, blending, merging, mingling, commingling, combining, mixing, assist, v. 1. help, aid, bestead, accommodate, oblige, abet, befriend; contribute, join in, Inf. pitch in, Inf. chip in, lend a hand, lend onself to, play or do one's part, boost, give a boost to, give a lift to; (all usu. negative) lift a finger, lift a hand, raise a finger, raise a hand.
2. Usu. assist with collaborate, cooperate, connive, conspire, coact; combine, join, unite, side, synergize, go or go along, team up, take part, join forces, Inf. hitch horses.
3. support, back, back up, second, uphold, sustain, maintain, endorse, smile upon, concur, stand by, Inf. go to bat for, Inf. stick up for; promote, further, advance, forward, advocate, cultivate, favor.
4. relieve, ameliorate, alleviate, mitigate, palliate, salve; comfort, soothe, solace, console, succor.
5. facilitate, ease, make easier, expedite, cut through red tape; speed, speed up, accelerate, hasten, quicken, lend wings to; intercede, pave the way, open the way, clear the way, run interference for, Fig. block for; disburden, disencumber, rid, disembarrass, deobstruct, lighten the load; bolster, prop up, enhance, tide over, put on one's feet, set up, set going.