transitive verb
- to choose and bring into a certain relationship; specif., to take into one's own family by legal process and raise as one's own child
- to take up and use (an idea, a practice, etc.) as one's own
- to choose and follow (a course)
- to vote to accept (a committee report, motion, etc.)
- to select as a required textbook
Origin:
L adoptare < ad-, to + optare, to choose