Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web
 
Help

CO-OPTATION

 - 2 dictionary results

co⋅opt

[koh-opt]
–verb (used with object)
1. to elect into a body by the votes of the existing members.
2. to assimilate, take, or win over into a larger or established group: The fledgling Labor party was coopted by the Socialist party.
3. to appropriate as one's own; preempt: The dissidents have coopted the title of her novel for their slogan.
Also, co-opt.


Origin:
1645–55; < L cooptāre. See co-, opt


co⋅op⋅ta⋅tion, co-op⋅ta⋅tion, co⋅op⋅tion, co-option [koh-op-shuhn] , noun
co⋅op⋅ta⋅tive, co-op⋅ta⋅tive [koh-op-tuh-tiv] , co⋅op⋅tive, co-optive, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To CO-OPTATION
co-opt   (kō-ŏpt', kō'ŏpt')   
tr.v.   co-opt·ed, co-opt·ing, co-opts
  1. To elect as a fellow member of a group.

  2. To appoint summarily.

  3. To take or assume for one's own use; appropriate: co-opted the criticism by embracing it.

  4. To neutralize or win over (an independent minority, for example) through assimilation into an established group or culture: co-opt rebels by giving them positions of authority.


[Latin cooptāre : co-, co- + optāre, to choose.]
co'-op·ta'tion n., co-op'ta·tive (-tə-tĭv) adj., co-op'tion (-ŏp'shən) n., co-op'tive adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Search another word or see CO-OPTATION on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us: