Definition of: adopt

(ə·dopt′) v.t.
1. To take into a new relationship; accept and treat as a member of one's family.
2. To take into one's family or as one's child by legal measures.
3. To take and follow as one's own, as a course of action.
4. To take up from someone else and use as one's own, as a phrase, practice, or creed.
5. To vote to accept, as a motion or committee report See synonyms under EMBRACE. [<F adopter <L adoptare <ad- to + optare choose]
—·a·dopt′er noun