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 — 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 — [[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… … English 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
