| v. t. | 1. | To take by choice into relationship, as, child, heir, friend, citizen, etc.; esp. to take voluntarily (a child of other parents) to be in the place of, or as, one's own child. |
| 2. | To take or receive as one's own what is not so naturally; to select and take or approve; |
| Verb | 1. | adopt - choose and follow; as of theories, ideas, policies, strategies or plans; "She followed the feminist movement"; "The candidate espouses Republican ideals" |
| 2. | adopt - take up and practice as one's own | |
| 3. | adopt - take on titles, offices, duties, responsibilities; "When will the new President assume office?" | |
| 4. | adopt - take on a certain form, attribute, or aspect; "His voice took on a sad tone"; "The story took a new turn"; "he adopted an air of superiority"; "She assumed strange manners"; "The gods assume human or animal form in these fables" | |
| 5. | adopt - take into one's family; "They adopted two children from Nicaragua" Synonyms: take in | |
| 6. | adopt - put into dramatic form; "adopt a book for a screenplay" | |
| 7. | adopt - take up the cause, ideology, practice, method, of someone and use it as one's own; "She embraced Catholocism"; "They adopted the Jewish faith" |
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