co ‧ opt BrE AmE ( also co-opt British English ) /kəʊˈɒpt $ koʊˈɑːpt/ verb [transitive] formal
[ Word Family: verb : ↑ opt , ↑ coopt ; noun : ↑ option ; adverb : optionally; adjective : ↑ optional ]
[ Date: 1600-1700 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: cooptare , from co- ( ⇨ ↑ co- ) + optare 'to choose' ]
1 . British English to make someone a member of a group, committee etc, by the agreement of all the members:
The committee may co-opt additional members for special purposes.
coopt somebody onto/into/to something
She was coopted onto the county education committee.
2 . to persuade someone to help or support you
coopt somebody to do something
Social scientists were co-opted to work with the development agencies.
Nan was coopted into the kitchen to make pastry.