adopt

Universal Words verb child 1 to take sb else's child into your family and become its legal parent(s): [V] a campaign to encourage childless couples to adopt * [VN] to adopt a child * She was forced to have her baby adopted. compareFOSTER method 2 [VN] to start to use a particular method or to show a particular attitude towards sb/sth: All three teams adopted different approaches to the problem. suggestion 3 [VN] to formally accept a suggestion or policy by voting: to adopt a resolution * The council is expected to adopt the new policy at its next meeting. new name / country 4 [VN] to choose a new name, a country, a custom, etc. and begin to use it as your own: to adopt a name / title / language * Early Christians in Europe adopted many of the practices of the older, pagan religions. way of behaving 5 [VN] (formal) to use a particular manner, way of speaking, expression, etc: He adopted an air of indifference. candidate 6 [VN] ~ sb (as sth) (BrE, politics) to choose sb as a candidate in an election or as a representative: She was adopted as parliamentary candidate for Wood Green.