to change or displace (a consonant) or (of a consonant) to be changed to or displaced by (another consonant) so thatits 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
Derived forms
dissimilative (disˈsimilative)
adjective
dissimilatory (disˈsimilatory)
adjective
Word origin
C19: from dis-1 + assimilate
dissimilate in American English
(dɪˈsɪməˌleɪt)
verb transitiveWord forms: disˈsimiˌlated or disˈsimiˌlating