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acclimate

/ˌækləˈmeɪt/
/ˈæklɪmeɪt/
IPA guide

Other forms: acclimated; acclimating; acclimates

When you acclimate yourself to a situation, you become used to it. It usually means getting accustomed to a particular new climate, but it can also mean getting used to other situations, such as a new school.

The word climate in the word acclimate should give you a clue as to the word's meaning: to get used to a specific climate. Nature allows the human body to acclimate itself to various weather conditions. For example, people moving to higher altitudes will develop more red blood cells in order to absorb oxygen better. This is their bodies' way of acclimating to the thinner air. It takes a while for the body to become acclimated to a new climate.

Definitions of acclimate
  1. verb
    get used to a certain climate
    see moresee less
    type of:
    adapt, adjust, conform
    adapt or conform oneself to new or different conditions
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