Climatize vs. Acclimate: What's the Difference?

• Acclimate

  Acclimatization or acclimatisation (also called acclimation or acclimatation) is the process in which an individual organism adjusts to a change in its environment (such as a change in altitude, temperature, humidity, photoperiod, or pH), allowing it to maintain performance across a range of environmental conditions. Acclimatization occurs in a short period of time (hours to weeks), and within the organism’s lifetime (compared to adaptation, which is a development that takes place over many generations). This may be a discrete occurrence (for example, when mountaineers acclimate to high altitude over hours or days) or may instead represent part of a periodic cycle, such as a mammal shedding heavy winter fur in favor of a lighter summer coat. Organisms can adjust their morphological, behavioral, physical, and/or biochemical traits in response to changes in their environment. While the capacity to acclimate to novel environments has been well documented in thousands of species, researchers still know very little about how and why organisms acclimate the way that they do.

• Climatize (verb)

  To acclimate or become acclimated.

• Climatize (verb)

  To adapt for comfort in extreme climates, especially as regards to temperature.

• Acclimate (verb)

  To habituate to a climate not native; to acclimatize.

• Acclimate (verb)

  To adjust to a new environment; not necessarily a wild, natural, earthy one.

• Acclimate (verb)

  To become accustomed to a new climate or environment.

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