[adopt] vt [ME, fr. MF or L; MF adopter, fr. L adoptare, fr. ad- + optare to choose] (1500) 1: to take by choice into a relationship; esp: to take voluntarily (a child of other parents) as one's own child
2: to take up and practice or use "~ed a moderate tone"
3: to accept formally and put into effect "~ a constitutional amendment"
4: to choose (a textbook) for required study in a course -- adopt.abil.i.ty n -- adopt.able adj -- adopt.er n syn adopt, embrace, espouse mean to take an opinion, policy, or practice as one's own. adopt implies accepting something created by another or foreign to one's nature "forced to adopt new policies". embrace implies a ready or happy acceptance "embraced the customs of their new homeland". espouse adds an implication of close attachment to a cause and a sharing of its fortunes "espoused the cause of women's rights".