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REFERENCE

assemble

v.
US //əˈsɛmbəɫ// UK //ɐsˈɛmbəl// as·sem·ble
  1. 1 to put together (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to put different parts together to build or make something.

    to fit together the separate component parts of a machine or other object. Transitive; requires a direct object.

    Example

    The instructions explain how to assemble the bookshelf in under an hour.

    Example

    The technicians had to assemble the satellite in a clean room to prevent any dust from interfering with the delicate optical sensors.
  2. 2 to gather (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to come together in a single place as a group.

    to gather together in one place for a common purpose. Used both transitively (to bring people together) and intransitively (to meet).

    Example

    The students were told to assemble in the main hall for the announcement.

    Example

    The protesters began to assemble outside the parliament building, carrying banners and waiting for the organisers to arrive.
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  1. 3 computing (v.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Computing

    to translate computer instructions into a language the machine can understand.

    to translate a programme from assembly language into machine code. Transitive; specific to low-level programming contexts.

    Example

    The developer used a tool to assemble the code for the new processor.

    Example

    Before the software can be executed on the hardware, the source code must be assembled into a binary format that the CPU can process directly.
    • disassemble
Origin

From Middle English assemblen, from Old French assembler (“to assemble”), from Medieval Latin assimulāre (“to bring together”), from ad- + simulō (“copy, imitate”), from similis (“like, similar”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *sem- (“together, one”). Doublet of assimilate.

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