/ əˈdɒpʃn; NAmE əˈdɑːpʃn/ noun
1.
[ C , U ] the act of adopting a child :
She put the baby up for adoption.
2.
[ U ] the decision to start using sth such as an idea, a plan or a name :
the adoption of new technology
3.
[ C , U ] ( BrE , politics ) the act of choosing sb as a candidate for an election :
his adoption as the Labour candidate
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from Latin adoptio(n-) , from ad- to + optio(n-) choosing, from the stem of optare choose.