adaptation

noun

ad·ap·ta·tion | \ ˌa-ˌdap-ˈtā-shən

, -dəp-\

Definition of adaptation

1 : something that is adapted a new adaptation of an old recipe specifically : a composition rewritten into a new form a screen adaptation of a novel

2 : the act or process of adapting a process undergoing adaptation : the state of being adapted adaptation to changing circumstances

3 : adjustment to environmental conditions: such as

a : adjustment of a sense organ to the intensity or quality of stimulation

b : modification of an organism or its parts that makes it more fit for existence under the conditions of its environment : a heritable physical or behavioral trait that serves a specific function and improves an organism's fitness or survival

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Examples of adaptation in a Sentence

His stage adaptation of the novel was a success. The film is an adaptation of a book of the same title. The insect's evolutionary adaptations enable it to be almost invisible even when sitting in the middle of a leaf. a tool designed for easy adaptation

Recent Examples on the Web

Several days after the opening of the theater adaptation of BBC’s Fleabag at New York’s SoHo Playhouse, Anna Wintour welcomed the production’s star, funny woman Phoebe Waller-Bridge, at an intimate dinner. — Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, "Anna Wintour Welcomes Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Fleabag to New York With an Intimate Dinner," 13 Mar. 2019 The steeper the increase in elevation, the more dramatic of an adaptation your body has to go through. — Carolyn L. Todd, SELF, "What Exactly Is Altitude Sickness?," 20 Dec. 2018 Into the Spider-Verse is right up there with Black Panther and Deadpool 2 as one of the best comic book adaptations in theaters this year. — Sam Machkovech, Ars Technica, "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse," 14 Dec. 2018 Unlike many of the previous adaptations of Clancy’s Jack Ryan books, this one isn’t adapted from a particular book. — Ryan D'agostino, Popular Mechanics, "Three Great New Shows About Veterans to Watch This Weekend," 9 Nov. 2018 The story, by American writer and journalist Nina Burleigh, is an adaptation from her book Golden Handcuffs: The Secret History of Trump's Women, which came out last October. — Caroline Hallemann, Town & Country, "British Paper Agrees to Pay Melania Trump "Substantial Damages" Over "False Statements"," 28 Jan. 2019 Two of his screenplays are adaptations of his own novels: Marathon Man (1976) and The Princess Bride. — Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, "RIP William Goldman, creator of beloved film, The Princess Bride," 16 Nov. 2018 The sharing of food between non-kin, for example, was an early adaptation that proved to be crucial to the success of H. Sapiens. — David Grossman, Popular Mechanics, "Humanity's Secret Weapon Is Surviving in Tough Climates," 31 July 2018 The film is an adaptation of the novel by the same name, written by author Emily M. Danforth. — Stephen Daw, Billboard, "Chloe Grace Moretz Rebels Through Conversion Therapy in 'The Miseducation of Cameron Post' Trailer," 10 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'adaptation.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries near adaptation

Statistics for adaptation

Last Updated

8 Apr 2019

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Time Traveler for adaptation

The first known use of adaptation was in 1597

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More Definitions for adaptation

adaptation

noun

English Language Learners Definition of adaptation

: something that is adapted especially : a movie, book, play, etc., that is changed so that it can be presented in another form

: a change in a plant or animal that makes it better able to live in a particular place or situation

: the process of changing to fit some purpose or situation : the process of adapting

See the full definition for adaptation in the English Language Learners Dictionary

adaptation

noun

ad·ap·ta·tion | \ ˌa-ˌdap-ˈtā-shən

Kids Definition of adaptation

1 : the act or process of changing to better suit a situation

2 : a body part or feature or a behavior that helps a living thing survive and function better in its environment

adaptation

noun

ad·ap·ta·tion | \ ˌad-ˌap-ˈtā-shən, -əp-

Medical Definition of adaptation

1 : the act or process of adapting : the state of being adapted his ingenious adaptation of the electric cautery knife to…surgery— George Blumer

2 : adjustment to environmental conditions: as

a : adjustment of a sense organ to the intensity or quality of stimulation

b : modification of an organism or its parts that makes it more fit for existence under the conditions of its environment — compare adjustment sense 1b

Other Words from adaptation

adaptational \ -shnəl, -shən-ᵊl

\ adjective

adaptationally \ -ē

\ adverb

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