Definition of immersion

The word "immersion" has its roots in the Latin "immersus," which means "dipped in" or "sunk." This Latin word is the passive participle of "immergere," which means "to dip in" or "to sink." The English word "immersion" emerged in the 15th century and initially referred to the act of dipping something into a liquid, such as a material being dyed or a piece of metal being molded. In the 17th century, the term began to take on a metaphorical sense, referring to the act of surrounding oneself with a particular environment, culture, or activity. This sense of immersion is now commonly used to describe the experience of being fully engaged in a virtual reality, video game, or other interactive medium, where the user is surrounded by a simulated world and is able to interact with it in a immersive and interactive way.