verb / adjective

incorporate

in-KOR-puh-rayt/ɪnˈkɔːrpəreɪt/

To unite separate parts into an organized body.

The baker incorporates berries into the batter by folding them through it.

A baker folds bright berries into a larger bowl of batter until the separate pieces become part of the whole mixture.

Etymology

inLatininto

+corporLatinbody

+ateLatinparticipial ending

The underlying image is putting something “into a body.” Including something in a larger whole treats that whole as a body into which the new element is absorbed.

In context

TED-Ed presenter3:28

That program could then incorporate this information into its predictions.

How does artificial intelligence learn? - Briana Brownell

Explearning Social Fluency with Mary Daphne presenter3:10

Incorporate the feedback you've given yourself into this next recording.

The best way to practice public speaking is ALONE in 6 Steps!

More examples

Fold gently to incorporate the flour into the batter.
We are incorporating the smaller teams into one department.
They incorporated the business before hiring their first employee.

Forms

incorporate · incorporates · incorporated · incorporating

incorporation noun — The act of combining into a whole.

Similar words

integrate: Emphasizes making separate elements work together as a whole.
combine: Means bringing things together, without necessarily creating an organized whole.