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- pronunciation:
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dapt
- features:
- Word Combinations (verb), Note, Word History, Word Builder, Word Explorer, Word Parts
part of speech: |
verb |
inflections: |
adopts, adopting, adopted |
definition 1: |
to become a parent of (a child) by law, or to accept an animal as a pet and become responsible for it.
My mom and dad adopted a little girl from China, so now I have a sister.Sam's family adopted a dog at the animal shelter.
- similar words:
- foster, mother
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definition 2: |
to take on and use as one's own.
When did you adopt that attitude towards school?She has adopted a weird laugh to get attention.- synonyms:
- assume
- antonyms:
- discard, reject
- similar words:
- accept, acquire, affect, borrow, embrace, take
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definition 3: |
to accept by voting for.
Congress adopted the law.- synonyms:
- approve, enact, pass
- antonyms:
- revoke
- similar words:
- back, endorse, ratify, sanction, vote for
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related words: |
buy, choose, pass |
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derivations: |
adoptable (adj.), adopter (n.) |
adopt or adapt?
Adopt means to accept a new thing as your own. Adapt means to make changes because of a new purpose or situation. Compare: - We adopted a puppy from the animal shelter.
- The puppy soon adapted to its new home.
The English word adopt is from a Latin word adoptare that means "to choose for oneself" or "to choose as one's own." If you take away the prefix ad- from adoptare, the word optare is left. Optare means "to choose freely." Other English words that come from optare include "option" (a choice) and "opt" (choose).
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