Library / English Dictionary

ADJUST

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Adapt or conform oneself to new or different conditions

Example:

We must adjust to the bad economic situation

Synonyms:

adapt; adjust; conform

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "adjust" is one way to...):

get used to (get or become familiar or accustomed with through experience)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "adjust"):

readapt; readjust (adjust anew)

readapt (adapt anew)

assimilate (become similar to one's environment)

focalise; focalize; focus (become focussed or come into focus)

acclimate; acclimatise; acclimatize (get used to a certain climate)

match (be equal or harmonize)

obey (be obedient to)

square (cause to match, as of ideas or acts)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP

Derivation:

adjustive (conducive to adjustment)

adjustment (making or becoming suitable; adjusting to circumstances)

adjustment (the process of adapting to something (such as environmental conditions))

Sense 2

Meaning:

Alter or regulate so as to achieve accuracy or conform to a standard

Example:

correct the alignment of the front wheels

Synonyms:

adjust; correct; set

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "adjust" is one way to...):

alter; change; modify (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "adjust"):

set (set to a certain position or cause to operate correctly)

modulate; regulate (fix or adjust the time, amount, degree, or rate of)

focalise; focalize; focus; sharpen (put (an image) into focus)

sync; synchronise; synchronize (make synchronous and adjust in time or manner)

pressurise; pressurize (increase the pressure in or of)

decompress; depressurise; depressurize (decrease the pressure of)

fit; match (make correspond or harmonize)

plumb (adjust with a plumb line so as to make vertical)

align; coordinate; ordinate (bring (components or parts) into proper or desirable coordination correlation)

harmonise; harmonize; reconcile (bring into consonance or accord)

linearise; linearize (make linear or get into a linear form)

justify (adjust the spaces between words)

citify (accustom to urban ways)

proportion (adjust in size relative to other things)

modulate (adjust the pitch, tone, or volume of)

temper (adjust the pitch (of pianos))

tune; tune up (adjust the pitches of (musical instruments))

calibrate; fine-tune; graduate (make fine adjustments or divide into marked intervals for optimal measuring)

tune; tune up (adjust for (better) functioning)

time (adjust so that a force is applied and an action occurs at the desired time)

trim (adjust (sails on a ship) so that the wind is optimally used)

zero; zero in (adjust (as by firing under test conditions) the zero of (a gun))

zero (adjust (an instrument or device) to zero value)

readjust; reset (adjust again after an initial failure)

attune (adjust or accustom to; bring into harmony with)

time (regulate or set the time of)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Somebody ----s something PP

Derivation:

adjustable (capable of being regulated)

adjuster (one who investigates insurance claims or claims for damages and recommends an effective settlement)

adjustive (conducive to adjustment)

adjustment (the act of adjusting something to match a standard)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Make correspondent or conformable

Example:

Adjust your eyes to the darkness

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "adjust" is one way to...):

accommodate; adapt (make fit for, or change to suit a new purpose)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s something to somebody

Derivation:

adjustable (capable of being changed so as to match or fit)

adjustment (the act of making something different (as e.g. the size of a garment))

Sense 4

Meaning:

Place in a line or arrange so as to be parallel or straight

Example:

align the sheets of paper on the table

Synonyms:

adjust; align; aline; line up

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "adjust" is one way to...):

reorient (set or arrange in a new or different determinate position)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "adjust"):

address (adjust and aim (a golf ball) at in preparation of hitting)

synchronise; synchronize (cause to indicate the same time or rate)

realign; realine (align anew or better)

true; true up (make level, square, balanced, or concentric)

collimate (adjust the line of sight of (an optical instrument))

concenter; concentre; focalise; focalize; focus (bring into focus or alignment; to converge or cause to converge; of ideas or emotions)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 5

Meaning:

Decide how much is to be paid on an insurance claim

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Hypernyms (to "adjust" is one way to...):

adjudicate; decide; resolve; settle (bring to an end; settle conclusively)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

adjustment (an amount added or deducted on the basis of qualifying circumstances)

adjustor (one who investigates insurance claims or claims for damages and recommends an effective settlement)

Credits

 Context examples: 

The work provides unexpected insights into how birds adjust their bodies when encountering crosswinds and navigate through unstable air flows, even at night with limited visual cues.

(Scientists discover how birds navigate crosswinds, National Science Foundation)

“While Mary is adjusting her ideas,” he continued, “let us return to Mr. Bingley.”

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

The researchers calculated asthma risk using several models and adjusted for risk factors such as sex, age, socioeconomic status and allergies.

(Obesity May Be to Blame for Quarter of Asthma Cases in Children, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

The rate at which they will disappear in the future depends on how they adjust to a warming climate.

(NASA Finds Asian Glaciers Slowed by Ice Loss, NASA)

Data were adjusted for age, sex, body mass index, and seasonal variation in vitamin D levels.

(Vitamin D Levels Predict Multiple Sclerosis Progression, NIH)

When humans listen to spoken language, the brain's auditory cortex activity adjusts to follow the rhythms of sentences.

(The Rhythms of Sign Language, NSF)

The cosmological parameters are then adjusted so that all of the different clusters, with different masses and different distances, appear to be similar.

("Russian Doll" Galaxy Clusters Reveal Information About Dark Energy, NASA)

For those receiving testosterone gel, the dose was adjusted throughout the study period, if needed, to maintain the hormone level of a young man.

(Hormone treatment studied in older men, NIH)

Nevertheless, the study sample was large and they were able to adjust for a wide range of potentially influential factors.

(Possible link found between sugary drinks, cancer, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

Ten of the 13 associations remained after adjusting for BMI.

(Physical activity associated with lower risk of many cancers, NIH)