a ‧ dapt W3 /əˈdæpt/ BrE AmE verb
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ adaptability , ↑ adaptation , ↑ adapter , ADAPTOR ; adjective : ↑ adaptable , ↑ adapted ; verb : ↑ adapt ]
[ Date: 1400-1500 ; Language: French ; Origin: adapter , from Latin adaptare , from ad- 'to' + aptare 'to make fit' , from aptus ; ⇨ ↑ apt ]
1 . [intransitive and transitive] to gradually change your behaviour and attitudes in order to be successful in a new situation
adapt to
The children are finding it hard to adapt to the new school.
flowers which are well adapted to harsh winters
The ability to adapt is a definite asset in this job.
adapt yourself/itself etc (to something)
How do these insects adapt themselves to new environments?
2 . [transitive] to change something to make it suitable for a different purpose
adapt something to do something
The car has been adapted to take unleaded gas.
adapt something for somebody
These teaching materials can be adapted for older children.
3 . [transitive usually passive] if a book or play is adapted for film, television etc, it is changed so that it can be made into a film, television programme etc ⇨ adaptation
be adapted for something
Many children buy books after they have been adapted for television.
—adapted adjective :
She lives in a specially adapted flat.
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THESAURUS
■ to change something
▪ change to make someone or something different:
Unfortunately, there’s nothing we can do to change the situation.
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Being at college has changed her – she’s much more confident now.
▪ alter especially written tochange something so that it is better or more suitable:
You can alter the colour and size of the image using a remote control.
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Can we alter the date of the meeting?
▪ adapt to change something slightly in order to improve it or make it more suitable:
How much would it cost to adapt the existing equipment?
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You can adapt the recipe to suit your own requirements.
▪ adjust to make small changes in the position or level of something in order to improve it or make it more suitable:
How do you adjust the volume on the television?
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He adjusted his tie in the mirror.
▪ modify especially written to make small changes to something such as a piece of equipment, a set of ideas, or a way of behaving in order to improve it or use it in a different way:
He’s modified his opinions since then.
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a modified version of the original program.
▪ reform to change a law, system, organization etc so that it is fairer or more effective:
plans to reform the tax system
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Health care needs to be completely reformed.
▪ revise to change a plan, idea, law etc because of new information and ideas:
In July, China revised the rules for foreign investment.
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The findings could force the scientists to revise their ideas about climate change.
▪ reorganize to change the way that a system or organization works:
We’ve had to reorganize our database
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During the 1980s, the government reorganized the civil service.
▪ restructure to make big changes to the way something is organized, especially a large political or economic system or a big company, in order to make it more effective:
The company has been restructured from top to bottom.