acclimatize
acclimatize Lexical Profile
acclimatize Game Scores & Validity
• verb
To adapt or become accustomed to a new climate, altitude, or physical environment, or to cause an organism to do so.
"Mountaineers spend several days at base camp to acclimatize to the thin air before attempting the summit."
To become familiar with and comfortable in a new situation, culture, or set of conditions.
"The orientation program helped the international students acclimatize to university life."
Word Nuance & Usage
While "acclimatize" and "acclimate" are interchangeable in general usage, "acclimatize" is strongly preferred in British English and in technical biological or physiological contexts, whereas "acclimate" is more common in everyday American English.
• Rhymes for acclimatize
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in the mid-19th century from the French verb "acclimater" (from "à", meaning "to", and "climat", meaning "climate"), combined with the English verbal suffix "-ize".