Main Entry:

adapt

Pronunciation:

\ə-ˈdapt, a-\

Function:

verb

Etymology:

French or Latin; French adapter, from Latin adaptare, from ad- + aptare to fit, from aptus apt, fit

Date:

15th century

transitive verb : to make fit (as for a specific or new use or situation) often by modification intransitive verb : to become adapted

— adapt·ed·ness noun

synonyms adapt, adjust, accommodate, conform, reconcile mean to bring one thing into correspondence with another. adapt implies a modification according to changing circumstances <adapted themselves to the warmer climate>. adjust suggests bringing into a close and exact correspondence or harmony such as exists between parts of a mechanism <adjusted the budget to allow for inflation>. accommodate may suggest yielding or compromising to effect a correspondence <accommodated his political beliefs in order to win>. conform applies to bringing into accordance with a pattern, example, or principle <refused to conform to society's values>. reconcile implies the demonstration of the underlying compatibility of things that seem to be incompatible <tried to reconcile what he said with what I knew>.