What does "integrate" mean?

1. (to combine parts) to combine two or more things so that they work together as one system. 2. (social inclusion) to become part of a group or society and be accepted by them. 3. (to end segregation) to open a place, like a school, to people of all races. 4. (mathematics) to find the total value of a changing quantity using calculus.

How do you use "integrate"?

Often used with the preposition 'with' or 'into'. Commonly used as an intransitive verb followed by 'into'.

integrate

US //ˈɪnəˌɡɹeɪt// UK //ˈɪntɪɡɹˌeɪt// in·te·grate

1 to combine parts (v.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Academic

to combine two or more things so that they work together as one system.

to combine or coordinate separate elements into a unified, functional whole.

Example

The new software will integrate all our customer data into one easy program.

Example

The engineering team worked for months to integrate the legacy database with the modern cloud-based interface without losing critical historical records.

Usage

Often used with the preposition 'with' or 'into'.
- separate
- detach
2 social inclusion (v.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

to become part of a group or society and be accepted by them.

to become part of a community or organization, or to help someone do so, by adopting its customs and being accepted.

Example

It can take a long time for immigrants to fully integrate into a new country.

Example

The local government launched several initiatives designed to help refugees integrate into the workforce and the broader community.

Usage

Commonly used as an intransitive verb followed by 'into'.
- assimilate
- blend in
- exclude
- segregate

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3 to end segregation (v.)
C1 Advanced Formal

to open a place, like a school, to people of all races.

to end the separation of people by race in a school, neighborhood, or organization.

Example

The city began to integrate its public schools in the 1960s.

Example

The landmark court ruling forced the state to integrate its transport systems, ending decades of racial separation.
- desegregate
- segregate
4 mathematics (v.)
C2 Proficiency Technical Math

to find the total value of a changing quantity using calculus.

to perform the operation of integration; to find the integral of a function or equation.

Example

In calculus class, we learned how to integrate functions to find the area under a curve.

Example

The physicist had to integrate the velocity function over a specific time interval to determine the total displacement of the particle.
- differentiate

Origin

First attested in the 1450's as an adjective, first attested in 1638 as a verb; from Middle English integrat(e) (“intact, whole”), borrowed from Latin integrātus, perfect passive participle of integrō (“to make whole, renew, repair, begin again”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and -ate (adjective-forming suffix)), from integer (“whole, fresh”) + -ō (verb-forming suffix). See integer and integral.

Word family

Verbdisintegrate
Verbintegrate