Library / English Dictionary

ADOPT

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Take into one's family

Example:

They adopted two children from Nicaragua

Synonyms:

adopt; take in

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

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

take (take into one's possession)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s somebody PP

Derivation:

adoptable (suitable or eligible for adoption)

adoptee (someone (such as a child) who has been adopted)

adopter (a person who adopts a child of other parents as his or her own child)

adoption (a legal proceeding that creates a parent-child relation between persons not related by blood; the adopted child is entitled to all privileges belonging to a natural child of the adoptive parents (including the right to inherit))

adoptive (of parents and children; related by adoption)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Take on a certain form, attribute, or aspect

Example:

The gods assume human or animal form in these fables

Synonyms:

acquire; adopt; assume; take; take on

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

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

change (undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature)

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

re-assume (take on again, as after a time lapse)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s something

Sense 3

Meaning:

Take up the cause, ideology, practice, method, of someone and use it as one's own

Example:

They adopted the Jewish faith

Synonyms:

adopt; embrace; espouse; sweep up

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

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

accept (consider or hold as true)

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

fasten on; hook on; latch on; seize on; take up (adopt)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

adoption (the appropriation (of ideas or words etc) from another source)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Put into dramatic form

Example:

adopt a book for a screenplay

Synonyms:

adopt; dramatise; dramatize

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

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

compose; indite; pen; write (produce a literary work)

Domain category:

authorship; composition; penning; writing (the act of creating written works)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sentence example:

Did he adopt his major works over a short period of time?

Sense 5

Meaning:

Take up and practice as one's own

Synonyms:

adopt; borrow; take over; take up

Classified under:

Verbs of buying, selling, owning

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

accept; have; take (receive willingly something given or offered)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s something from somebody

Derivation:

adoption (the appropriation (of ideas or words etc) from another source)

adoptive (acquired as your own by free choice)

Sense 6

Meaning:

Choose and follow; as of theories, ideas, policies, strategies or plans

Example:

The candidate espouses Republican ideals

Synonyms:

adopt; espouse; follow

Classified under:

Verbs of buying, selling, owning

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

choose; pick out; select; take (pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives)

Verb group:

abide by; comply; follow (act in accordance with someone's rules, commands, or wishes)

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

adhere; stick (be a devoted follower or supporter)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

adoption (the act of accepting with approval; favorable reception)

Sense 7

Meaning:

Take on titles, offices, duties, responsibilities

Example:

When will the new President assume office?

Synonyms:

adopt; assume; take on; take over

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

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

take office (assume an office, duty, or title)

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

resume (assume anew)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Credits

 Context examples: 

“No. That was his nephew,” I replied; whom he adopted, though, as a son.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

"No, I don't," was Jo's decided answer, as she petted the fat poodle, whom she had adopted, out of respect to his former mistress.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Aha! he said, your simile of the tiger good, for me, and I shall adopt him.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

The process of adopting the traits or social patterns of a different population group.

(Acculturation, NCI Thesaurus)

Other children live in orphanages or with birth relatives until they can be adopted.

(Adoption, NIH)

“There's a breeze coming, Jim,” said Silver, who had by this time adopted quite a friendly and familiar tone.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

This family of proteins adopts a four-helix bundle fold with up-up-down-down topology and contains intramolecular disulfide bonds.

(Oncostatin M, NCI Thesaurus)

NCIt has been produced by NCI Enterprise Vocabulary Services (EVS) since 1997, and adopted since then for use by numerous federal agencies, standards development and research organizations.

(NCI Thesaurus, NCI Thesaurus)

“No doubt Baynes, with his methodical mind, has already adopted some similar plan.”

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I am well disposed towards him, however, and I consider him eminently adapted for the profession which he is about to adopt.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)