adopt

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 other parents) as one's own child 2. to take up and practice or use <
adopted a moderate tone
>
3. to accept formally and put into effect <
adopt a constitutional amendment
>
4. to choose (a textbook) for required study in a course intransitive verb to adopt a child <
couples choosing to adopt
>
adoptability nounadoptable adjectiveadopter noun Synonyms: adopt, embrace, espouse mean to take an opinion, policy, or practice as one's own. adopt implies accepting something created by another or foreign to one's nature <
forced to adopt new policies
>
. embrace implies a ready or happy acceptance <
embraced the customs of their new homeland
>
. espouse adds an implication of close attachment to a cause and a sharing of its fortunes <
espoused the cause of women's rights
>
.

New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.

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  • 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 — [[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

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