migrate

[ mahy-greyt ]

verb (used without object)

, mi·grat·ed, mi·grat·ing.

1. to go from one country, region, or place to another.

   Synonyms: relocate, move

   Antonyms: stay, remain

2. to pass periodically from one region or climate to another, as certain birds, fishes, and animals:

   The birds migrate southward in the winter.

3. to shift, as from one system, mode of operation, or enterprise to another.
4. Physiology. (of a cell, tissue, etc.) to move from one region of the body to another, as in embryonic development.
5. Chemistry.
   1. (of ions) to move toward an electrode during electrolysis.
   2. (of atoms within a molecule) to change position.
6. (at British universities) to change or transfer from one college to another.

migrate

/ maɪˈɡreɪt /

verb

1. to go from one region, country, or place of abode to settle in another, esp in a foreign country
2. (of birds, fishes, etc) to journey between different areas at specific times of the year

Derived Forms

• miˈgrator, noun

Other Words From

• migra·tor noun
• inter·migrate verb (used without object) intermigrated intermigrating
• non·migrat·ing adjective noun
• re·migrate verb (used without object) remigrated remigrating
• un·migrat·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of migrate¹

First recorded in 1690–1700; from Latin migrātus (past participle of migrāre “to move from place to place, change position or abode”), equivalent to migrā- verb stem + -tus past participle suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of migrate¹

C17: from Latin migrāre to change one's abode

Synonym Study

Migrate, emigrate, immigrate are used of changing one's abode from one country or part of a country to another. To migrate is to make such a move either once or repeatedly: to migrate from Ireland to the United States. To emigrate is to leave a country, usually one's own (and take up residence in another): Each year many people emigrate from Europe. To immigrate is to enter and settle in a country not one's own: There are many inducements to immigrate to South America. Migrate is applied both to people or to animals that move from one region to another, especially periodically; the other terms are generally applied to movements of people.

Example Sentences

Cooking with any plastic utensil has long been seen as worrisome because heat can cause chemicals in the plastic to migrate into the food you’re about to eat.

From Los Angeles Times

This pattern dates back to the 1960s, he adds, when the Democratic party became associated with the civil rights movement and white Christian groups began migrating to the Republican Party.

From BBC

There are gulls migrating earlier or later than usual, probably by three to four weeks at this point.

From Salon

It is usually the duller yellowish birds which are spotted in the UK, having been swept off course by storms as they migrate south in the autumn, the website said.

From BBC

The process of migrating passengers with existing Vistara bookings and loyalty programmes to Air India has been under way over the past few months.

From BBC

Related Words

• drift
• emigrate
• immigrate
• roam
• shift
• trek
• wander