Integration

ˌɪntɪˈɡreɪʃən

nounmediumVery CommonGeneral

Definitions

3 meanings
1

The process of combining or coordinating separate parts into a whole; uniting things.

ˌɪntɪˈɡreɪʃən

nounneutralmedium
General

The act or process of combining things to form a whole.

The company is working on the integration of the two departments.

💡 Simply: Think about mixing all the ingredients together to make a cake! Integration is like that, but it's putting different parts together to make something new and complete.

👶 For kids: Putting things together to make something new, like when you put LEGO bricks together!

More Examples

2

Cultural integration is essential for a diverse society.

3

The integration of renewable energy sources is crucial for combating climate change.

How It's Used

Technology

"The software requires seamless integration with existing systems."

Social

"The school promotes racial integration among its students."

Mathematics

"Integration is a fundamental concept in calculus."

2

The bringing together of people of different racial or ethnic groups, especially in schools or communities.

ˌɪntɪˈɡreɪʃən

nounpositivemedium
Academic

The act of bringing people of different races or ethnic groups into equal association.

The neighborhood promotes integration by hosting community events.

💡 Simply: Imagine a school where kids from all backgrounds play and learn together. That’s what we mean when we talk about integration, making sure everyone has a fair chance and gets along well together.

👶 For kids: When people from different groups get along and work together, like friends from different schools playing together!

More Examples

2

The school's integration policy aimed to create a more diverse student body.

3

Integration efforts have led to increased opportunities for marginalized communities.

How It's Used

Sociology

"Civil rights movements fought for racial integration in schools."

Politics

"The government is committed to the social integration of immigrants."

Tip:Think of different colored puzzle pieces fitting together perfectly to form one picture. That's social integration.
3

The mathematical process of finding the integral of a function.

ˌɪntɪˈɡreɪʃən

nounneutralAdvanced
General

Understanding integration is crucial for solving complex calculus problems.

💡 Simply: This is a special math trick to figure out the area or amount something is spread out over.

👶 For kids: A math game to find the area of something.

More Examples

2

The integration of the function x^2 with respect to x is (x^3)/3 + C.

3

Mathematicians use integration to model real-world phenomena like population growth.

How It's Used

Mathematics

"The fundamental theorem of calculus links differentiation and integration."

Tip:Think of integration as the reverse of differentiation, finding the area under a curve.

Idioms & expressions

racial integration

The process of ending racial segregation and bringing different racial groups together in schools, workplaces, and communities.

"The civil rights movement fought for racial integration in the United States."

system integration

The process of bringing together the various subsystems into one system, ensuring that the subsystems function together as a coordinated whole.

"The company specializes in system integration for complex IT projects."

cultural integration

The process by which people of different cultures interact and share ideas, values, and practices, leading to a more cohesive society.

"Cultural integration can enrich society by fostering understanding and tolerance."

From Latin integratio, meaning 'a making whole' or 'renewal.' It stems from the verb integrare, meaning 'to make whole' or 'renew,' derived from integer, meaning 'whole' or 'complete.' The word developed in English from the 16th century, initially concerning mathematical concepts, and later evolving into social and political contexts.

The term integration started gaining wider social and political relevance in the mid-20th century, particularly in discussions surrounding civil rights and technological advancement.

Memory tip

Imagine putting all the pieces of a puzzle together, making a complete picture. That's integration!

Word Origin

Root: integer

intigrationintegrasion

Usage

40%Spoken
60%Written