Adopt meaning in English
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Definition
to adopt: to raise another person's child within one's own family; to choose, to embrace, to accept
We've decided to adopt a child. We're going to raise him as if he were our own.
We urge you to adopt this bill. Please accept it, it's very important.
Examples
- "Should I adopt Lucy from Las Vegas?"
- "To help you achieve your goals, I need you to adopt some new habits."
- "I just received a call from a little girl who is obviously very cute, and she's asked me to adopt her."
- "Consequently, I suggest that Jean adopt a native English accent, to make himself easier to understand."
- "Better yet, why not adopt a child?"
- "It looks like I'll be adopting a little girl."
- "Go on Donna, adopt this mysterious child."
- "We adopted an African child together."
- "Should I adopt little Lucy?"
- "Everyone please call me at 1-800-DR-DONNA and tell me whether you think I should adopt this little girl."
- "Donna : I don't know about that Jean, but the question is: should I adopt a little girl from Las Vegas?"
- "Brian : I think you should adopt her Donna."
- "Philip : I've done a lot of research, and I found that the margin costs alone involved in adopting this charter would kill our profits."
- "Donna, will you adopt me?"
- "Here are a few examples: adopt a tree, or maybe even a forest!"
Exercise 1
In the beginning of the dialogue, Philip tells Susie that would eliminate Delavigne's profit margins.
In the beginning of the dialogue, Philip tells Susie that adhering to the charter would eliminate Delavigne's profit margins.
adhering to the charter: This is the best choice here. Philip says: "the margin costs alone involved in adopting this charter would kill our profits". This means that once Delavigne "adopts" or "accepts" the charter, they will have to use legitimate manufacturing sources, which will be more expensive than their current manufacturers. They would therefore stop making a profit.
researching the charter: This is incorrect. "Researching" the charter would not cost any money. Philip speaks about the research he has already done, in order to arrive at his conclusion that "adopting the charter" would be expensive.
paying the fee to join the charter agreement: This is incorrect. Philip does not mention anything about charges to be paid for signing the charter. He speaks of "margin costs", which are the costs that will come as a result of Delavigne's hiring a company listed on the OILS charter.
the margin costs of refusing to accept the charter: This is incorrect. In fact, Philip says the opposite. He is afraid that the "margin costs" which will result from Delavigne accepting the charter will damage Delavigne's profits.
Exercise 2
Bruno wants Horatio to Giuseppe.
Bruno wants Horatio to track Giuseppe.
track: This is the correct choice. To "track (an animal or a person)" means to follow them, usually using clues (smell, footprints etc.) For example: the sheriff tracked the outlaws all the way to the Mexican border. To "track" shares a similar meaning with "hunt" as it is used in this dialogue. Bruno wants Horatio to "track" Giuseppe when he says, "Go now Horatio. Find Giuseppe, and hunt well, my friend".
kill: Bruno does not want Horatio to "kill" Giuseppe. The term "to hunt" means to follow for the purpose of killing or capturing an animal. The term can be used for "tracking" or "chasing" animals, but it does not necessarily mean that they will be "killed".
research: This is not the best choice. Bruno does not want Horatio to "research" Giuseppe. The term "research" means to collect information about a person or subject. For example: I went to the library to do some research on Napoleon. This term does not express the same meaning as "hunt" or "track".
adopt: This is not the best choice. Bruno never suggests that Horatio "adopt" Giuseppe. Horatio does say, "I know this monkey like he is my son" but this does not indicate that Bruno wants Horatio to legally make Giuseppe his son.
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