assort
assort — verb
- assortpresent simple I / you / we / they
- assorts3rd person singular
- assorting-ing form
- assortedpast simple
1. to separate things by type, size, or another feature so similar ones are put tog
to separate things by type, size, or another feature so similar ones are put together.
The warehouse staff assort the screws by size before packing.
assort + noun + by + feature
Caio assorted the art cards into boxes for the school fair.
assort + noun + into + groups
Please assort the mail by floor before the manager arrives.
At the food bank, volunteers assort rice, beans, and cooking oil.
- sort
the normal everyday verb for putting things into order or groups
- classify
more systematic, often with named categories or rules
- categorize
modern and technical, especially for information or data
- mix up
to put different things together without keeping groups clear
文法句型
assort + noun + by + feature
assort + noun + into + groups
用法筆記
Often followed by 'by' for the feature used in sorting, or 'into' before the groups created. In modern everyday English, 'sort' is more common.
常見錯誤
2. of genes or traits, to separate into different sex cells as they form, creating
of genes or traits, to separate into different sex cells as they form, creating new combinations in offspring.
In pea plants, the colour genes assort when sex cells form.
genes assort
These two traits assort separately, so the seedlings show four patterns.
The diagram shows how the genes assort before the new cells divide.
If the genes assort independently, one child may get both traits.
文法句型
genes assort
traits assort independently
用法筆記
Most often used in biology with genes, chromosomes, or traits. 'Assort independently' is a common pattern when two traits separate without affecting each other.
3. to spend time with a certain group of people and move in their social circle.
to spend time with a certain group of people and move in their social circle.
After school, Eli assorted with older boys from the docks.
assort with + people
Her father warned her not to assort with gamblers again.
The prince refused to assort with people who mocked the servants.
Jessica rarely assorted with the loud crowd at court dinners.
- associate
neutral and much more common in present-day English
- mix with
more informal and often used for social contact
- keep company with
older phrasing with a similar social meaning
- avoid
to stay away from a person or group
文法句型
assort with + people
用法筆記
Usually followed by 'with' before the people involved. This sense is old-fashioned and appears mainly in historical or literary writing.