Definition of "adoption" in English

noun

1. The act of adopting.

2. The state of being adopted; the acceptance of a child of other parents as if he or she were one's own child.

   • A Chinese baby girl was given away for adoption.
   • Another Chinese boy was put up for adoption.

3. An admission to an institution, for example a hospital, clinic, mental asylum.

   • the adoption of people into hospitals or monasteries

4. The choosing and making that to be one's own which originally was not so; acceptance.

   • the adoption of opinions
   • the adoption of words from another language

5. (computing) The transfer from an old system to another (usually better) system.

6. (theology) An act of divine grace by which the redeemed in Christ are admitted to the privileges of the sons of God.

7. (chess, slang) Ten consecutive wins against an opponent.

   • Infuriated by his adoption yesterday, the chess master has resolved to study twice as long and twice as hard.