adopt

adopt
[[t]ədɒ̱pt[/t]]
♦♦
adopts, adopting, adopted
1) VERB If you adopt a new attitude, plan, or way of behaving, you begin to have it.

[V n] The United Nations General Assembly has adopted a resolution calling on all parties in the conflict to seek a political settlement...

[V n] Pupils should be helped to adopt a positive approach to the environment. [Also V n as n]

Derived words:
adoption [[t]ədɒ̱pʃ(ə)n[/t]] N-UNCOUNT

...the adoption of Japanese management practices by British manufacturing.

2) VERB If you adopt someone else's child, you take it into your own family and make it legally your son or daughter.

[V n] There are hundreds of people desperate to adopt a child...

[V-ed] The adopted child has the right to see his birth certificate. [Also V]

Derived words:
adopter plural N-COUNT

A social worker is appointed to interview the prospective adopters.

adoption plural N-VAR

They gave their babies up for adoption...

The majority of adoptions are successful.

3) VERB If you adopt a physical position, you move yourself into it. [FORMAL]

[V n] I tried to adopt a curled-up position to avoid damaging my limbs.

4) VERB If you adopt a country, you choose it as a place to live.

[V n] Podulski had joined the U.S. Navy as an aviator, adopting a new country and a new profession.

[V-ed] ...their adopted home in England.

5) VERB If you adopt an accent or a particular tone of voice, you speak differently from normal, especially to create an effect in a particular situation.

[V n] He has adopted the accent of a Second World War newscaster...

[V n] The girl was uncertain what to do, or what tone of voice to adopt.


English dictionary. 2008.

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Synonyms:
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Look at other dictionaries:

  • adopt — /ə däpt/ vt 1: to take voluntarily (a child of other parents) as one s own child esp. in compliance with formal legal procedures see also equitable adoption 2: to take or accept as if one s own [the company] adopt ed the signature on t …   Law dictionary

  • adopt — a‧dopt [əˈdɒpt ǁ əˈdɑːpt] noun [transitive] 1. if you adopt a new method, process etc, you start to use it: • All US companies are required to adopt the new standards. 2. MARKETING to start using a product, especially a new product, usually with… …   Financial and business terms

  • adopt — adopt; adopt·a·bil·i·ty; adopt·a·ble; re·adopt; …   English syllables

  • adopt — adopt, embrace, espouse mean in common to make one’s own what in some fashion one owes to another. One adopts something of which one is not the begetter, inventor, or author or which is not one’s own naturally {adopt the style of Swinburne}… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • Adopt — A*dopt , v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Adopted}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Adopting}.] [L. adoptare; ad + optare to choose, desire: cf. F. adopter. See {Option}.] 1. To take by choice into relationship, as, child, heir, friend, citizen, etc.; esp. to take… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • adopt — [v1] choose or take something as one’s own accept, adapt, affiliate, affirm, appropriate, approve, assent, assume, borrow, embrace, endorse, espouse, follow, go down the line*, go in for*, imitate, maintain, mimic, opt, ratify, seize, select,… …   New thesaurus

  • adopt — (v.) c.1500, a back formation from adoption or else from M.Fr. adopter or directly from L. adoptare take by choice, choose for oneself, select, choose (especially a child); see ADOPTION (Cf. adoption). Originally in English also of friends,… …   Etymology dictionary

  • adopt — ► VERB 1) legally take (another s child) and bring it up as one s own. 2) choose to take up or follow (an option or course of action). 3) Brit. choose as a candidate for office. 4) assume (an attitude or position). 5) formally approve or accept.… …   English terms dictionary

  • adopt — [ə däpt′] vt. [L adoptare < ad , to + optare, to choose] 1. to choose and bring into a certain relationship; specif., to take into one s own family by legal process and raise as one s own child 2. to take up and use (an idea, a practice, etc.) …   English World dictionary

  • adopt — verb Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French or Latin; Middle French adopter, from Latin adoptare, from ad + optare to choose Date: 1500 transitive verb 1. to take by choice into a relationship; especially to take voluntarily (a child of… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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