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third-person singular simple present adopts, present participle adopting, simple past and past participle adopted
To take (a child, heir, friend, citizen, etc.) by choice into a relationship.
To take voluntarily (a child of other parents) to be in the place of, or as, one's own child. examples
To obtain (a pet) from a shelter or the wild. examples
To contribute towards the upkeep of (a child or animal), in exchange for occasional stories, pictures, etc. examples
To take by choice into the scope of one's responsibility. quotations examples
Sixteen years ago, the station entered into a new chapter when it was adopted by the Friends of Chirk Station (FoCS) volunteer group, under the Arriva Trains Wales Station Adopters programme.
2020 December 30, Paul Stephen, “Chirk station is truly blooming”, in Rail, page 49
To take or receive as one's own what is not so naturally. quotations examples
[S]he [Edwina, mother of Tennessee Williams] was indeed Amanda [Wingfield, character in Williams' play The Glass Menagerie] in the flesh: a doughty chatterbox from Ohio who adopted the manner of a Southern belle and eschewed both drink and sex to the greatest extent possible.
2014 November 14, Blake Bailey, “'Tennessee Williams,' by John Lahr ”, in The New York Times
To select and take or approve. quotations examples
Every society should adopt an order of business adapted to its special wants.
1876, Henry Martyn Robert, Robert’s Rules of Order, Chicago: S.C. Griggs & Co., Article XIV, Section 71, p. 156
Having found a property that 'feels' right you then have to adopt a hard-headed attitude and consider the realities of life in a new environment.
1997, “Buying a Rural Property”, in Back to Basics, Surry Hills, NSW: Reader's Digest (Australia) Pty Limited, page 10
(chess, slang) To beat an opponent ten times in a row. quotations
Nakamura 'Adopts' Komodo On Fathers Day: 20.5-2.5
2018 June 19, Peter Doggers, “(title)”, in Chess.com, archived from the original on 2022-05-21
Wednesday's event will offer the Russian grandmaster three opportunities to adopt Rensch, though just like in the Speed Chess Championship, Nepomniachtchi will have to race against the clock.
2020 May 27, “Adopt-A-Danny Returns Wednesday With Ian Nepomniachtchi”, in Chess.com, archived from the original on 2020-05-27
"That's it, that's it!" the Grandmaster Eric Hansen bellowed after following nine straight losses with a win. "You are not adopting me! Not today, not today!"
2022 April 12, Jacob Sweet, “The Most Popular Chess Streamer on Twitch”, in The New Yorker, archived from the original on 2022-08-26
There was wasn't much for Gukesh fans to cheer, but at least he avoided the fate of Maghsoodloo, who was "adopted", i.e. beaten 10 games in a row. Gukesh struck in the 2nd 3+1 game, when he was dangerously close to that mark.
2022 December 7, Colin McGourty, “Carlsen plays "horribly", beats Gukesh 23:7”, in chess24, archived from the original on 2022-12-09