verb (used with object), em·bed·ded, em·bed·ding.
- to fix into a surrounding mass: to embed stones in cement.
- to surround tightly or firmly; envelop or enclose: Thick cotton padding embedded the precious vase in its box.
- to incorporate or contain as an essential part or characteristic: A love of color is embedded in all of her paintings.
- Histology. to infiltrate (a biological tissue) with molten paraffin or other plastic material that later solidifies, enabling the preparation to be sliced very thin for viewing under a microscope.
- Mathematics. to map a set into another set.
- Grammar. to insert (a construction, as a phrase or clause) into a larger construction, as a clause or sentence.
- to assign (a journalist) to travel with a military unit or a political campaign: The photojournalists were embedded in Afghanistan with U.S. troops. We’ve embedded a reporter with each of the presidential candidates.
- Digital Technology. to place (text, images, sound, or computer code) in a computer file, HTML document, software program, or electronic device: how to embed videos on your website; embedded software in cars and airplanes.
verb (used without object), em·bed·ded, em·bed·ding.
- to be or become fixed or incorporated, as into a surrounding mass: Glass embeds in the soft tar of the road.
noun
- a journalist who is embedded with a military unit or a political campaign.
- a period of time during which a journalist is embedded.
verb -beds, -bedding or -bedded
- (usually foll by in) to fix or become fixed firmly and deeply in a surrounding solid massto embed a nail in wood
- (tr) to surround closelyhard rock embeds the roots
- (tr) to fix or retain (a thought, idea, etc) in the mind
- (often foll by with) to assign a journalist or be assigned as one to accompany an active military unit
- (tr) grammar to insert (a subordinate clause) into a sentence
noun (ˈɪmbɛd)
- a journalist accompanying an active military unit
1778, from em- + bed (n.). Originally a geological term, in reference to fossils in rock; figurative sense is from 1835; meaning “place a journalist within a military unit at war” is 2003. Related: Embedded; embedding.