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adapt

a·dapt [ ə dápt ] (past and past participle a·dapt·ed, present participle a·dapt·ing, 3rd person present singular a·dapts)


verb 
Definition:
 
1. transitive and intransitive verb change to meet requirements: to change something to suit different conditions or a different purpose, or be changed in this way

2. transitive and intransitive verb adjust to something: to become, or make somebody or something become, used to a new environment or different conditions

3. transitive verb rewrite book or play: to rewrite a book or a play in order to make it into a film or television program

[15th century. Via French adapter< Latin adaptare "fit to" < aptus "attached"]

Word Usage
adapt or adopt?

Adapt means "to change something to meet requirements," "to adjust to something," or "to rewrite something," as in adapted [not adopted] the cottage to a year-round dwelling;flora and fauna that had adapted [not adopted] to an arid climate;adapted [not adopted] the novel for television.Adopt means "to legally raise another's child," "to choose and decide to use something," and "to assume a behavior pattern," as in adopted [not adapted] two boys;adopted [not adapted] a new ideology;adopted [not adapted] an attitude of superiority.

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