To make or become dissimilar or unlike; to change so that things no longer resemble each other.
From Latin dissimilatus, past participle of dissimilare (dis- 'opposite of' + similare 'to make like'). The prefix dis- reverses the action of similare, so dissimilate means 'to make unlike.' This contrasts with assimilate.
In linguistics, dissimilation is when two similar sounds in a word change to become less alike—like how 'pilgrim' comes from Latin 'peregrinum' where the r-r sounds dissimilated to p-r to be less repetitive and easier to pronounce.
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