[əˈdɒpt], (Verb)

Definitions:
- legally take (another's child) and bring it up as one's own
(e.g: there are many people eager to adopt a baby)

- choose to take up, follow, or use
(e.g: this approach has been adopted by many big banks)

- take on or assume (an attitude or position)
(e.g: he adopted a patronizing tone)

- (of a local authority) accept responsibility for the maintenance of (a road)


Phrases:

Origin:
late 15th century: via French from Latin adoptare, from ad- ‘to’ + optare ‘choose’