adopt

Word family

Related topics: Voting

a·dopt /əˈdɒpt $ əˈdɑːpt/ S3 W2 verb

1 child 孩子LOOK AFTER somebodySSF [intransitiveI, transitiveT] to take someone else’s child into your home and legally become its parent 收养，领养 → foster

Sally was adopted when she was four.

莎莉四岁时被人收养。

The couple are unable to have children of their own, but hope to adopt.

那对夫妇自己无法生育，但希望领养孩子。

2 adopt an approach/policy/attitude etc DEAL WITHto start to deal with or think about something in a particular way 采用某种方法/政策/态度等

The courts were asked to adopt a more flexible approach to young offenders.

法庭被要求对少年犯采取更为灵活的处理方法。

The store recently adopted a drug testing policy for all new employees.

这家商店近来实行新雇员一律要做药检的政策。

California has adopted a tough stance on the issue.

加利福尼亚州对这一问题持强硬立场。

Examples from the Corpus

adopt an approach/policy/attitude etc• Their purpose is to influence government to adopt policies favourable to them.• No-Layoff Policies Perhaps the best way to secure union cooperation is to adopt a policy of no layoffs.• Ultimately, planners adopted a policy of non-violence.• He also agreed to adopt policies on affirmative action and ethics.• Can a school board adopt a policy prohibiting dancing at school?• It is very hard convincing powers like the World Bank to adopt policies that truly help the poorest.• It is essential that these countries, too, adopt policies that will help to protect the Ozone Layer.• This structure can neither impose law upon its members nor force one of them to adopt a policy with which it disagrees.

3 style/manner 作风/方式USE something [transitiveT] to use a particular style of speaking, writing, or behaving, especially one that you do not usually use 采取，采用〔不常用的说话、写作或行为方式〕

Kim adopts a southern accent when speaking to family back home.

基姆和老家的亲人讲话就操南方口音。

4 law/rule 法律/法规ACCEPT [transitiveT] to formally approve a proposal, amendment etc, especially by voting 正式通过，批准〔尤以投票方式〕

Congress finally adopted the law after a two-year debate.

经过两年辩论，国会最终通过了这项法律。

5 name/country etc 名字/国家等CHOOSE [transitiveT] to choose a new name, country, custom etc, especially to replace a previous one 选定〔名字〕；移居〔国家〕；采纳〔习俗〕

Stevens became a Muslim and adopted the name Yusuf Islam.

史蒂文斯成为穆斯林后取名优素福·伊斯兰。

Becoming a member of a society means adopting its values.

成为某个社会的一员意味着要接纳这个社会的价值观。

6. election 选举PPV [transitiveT] British EnglishBrE to officially choose someone to represent a political party in an election 提名…为候选人

—adopter noun [countableC]

—adoptee /əˌdɒpˈtiː $ əˌdɑːp-/ noun [countableC]

Examples from the Corpus

adopt• David and Sheila are unable to have children, but they're hoping to adopt.• She had hoped to get pregnant, but when she failed, she and her husband decided to adopt.• His company might adopt a gain-sharing plan based upon plant-wide performance.• PTM Co. has adopted a neighborhood school, and employees often tutor students.• Kim adopts a southern accent when she speaks to her cousins.• The Maastricht Treaty provisions for culture were adopted against this background.• Rather than adopting an inappropriate legislative approach, we must persuade people and affect attitudes.• These standards have been adopted by many states, counties, and cities; others have established their own standards.• Chinese babies are the favorite choice of Americans adopting children from abroad.• He discovered that his guardian, Aunt Mimi, had not legally adopted him.• Uncle Khan later told me that it was his wife who had been determined to adopt me as her own.• Teenagers who discover they were adopted often search for their biological parents when they are old enough.• Phillips says his ultimate vindication would be to see the airline industry adopting SafetyScope, but he isn't holding his breath.• This guy persuaded me I had to adopt that attitude in the Tests as well.• My mother was adopted when she was four.

From Longman Business Dictionary

adopta·dopt /əˈdɒptəˈdɑːpt/ noun [transitiveT]

1if you adopt a new method, process etc, you start to use it

All US companies are required to adopt the new standards.

2MARKETING to start using a product, especially a new product, usually with the intention of continuing to buy and use it

More than 300 companies have adopted the software.

—adoption noun [countableC, uncountableU]

the adoption of sophisticated production techniques

adoption of new textbooks by the education department

Origin adopt