adaptation
the act of adapting.
the state of being adapted; adjustment.
something produced by adapting: an adaptation of a play for television.
Biology.
any alteration in the structure or function of an organism or any of its parts that results from natural selection and by which the organism becomes better fitted to survive and multiply in its environment.
a form or structure modified to fit a changed environment.
the ability of a species to survive in a particular ecological niche, especially because of alterations of form or behavior brought about through natural selection.
Physiology. the decrease in response of sensory receptor organs, as those of vision, touch, temperature, olfaction, audition, and pain, to changed, constantly applied, environmental conditions.
Ophthalmology. the regulating by the pupil of the quantity of light entering the eye.
Also a·dap·tion [uh-dap-shuhn]. /əˈdæp ʃən/. Sociology. a slow, usually unconscious modification of individual and social activity in adjustment to cultural surroundings.
Origin of adaptation
1Other words from adaptation
- ad·ap·ta·tion·al, adjective
- ad·ap·ta·tion·al·ly, adverb
- coun·ter·ad·ap·ta·tion, noun
- in·ter·a·dap·tion, noun
- mis·ad·ap·ta·tion, noun
- non·ad·ap·ta·tion, noun
- non·ad·ap·ta·tion·al, adjective
- re·ad·ap·ta·tion, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
British Dictionary definitions for adaptation
/ (ˌædəpˈteɪʃən, ˌædæp-) /
the act or process of adapting or the state of being adapted; adjustment
something that is produced by adapting something else
something that is changed or modified to suit new conditions or needs
biology an inherited or acquired modification in organisms that makes them better suited to survive and reproduce in a particular environment
physiol the decreased response of a sense organ to a repeated or sustained stimulus
psychol (in learning theory) the weakening of a response to a stimulus with repeated presentation of the stimulus without reinforcement; applied mainly to innate responses
social welfare alteration to a dwelling to make it suitable for a disabled person, as by replacing steps with ramps
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Scientific definitions for adaptation
[ ăd′ăp-tā′shən ]
A change in structure, function, or behavior by which a species or individual improves its chance of survival in a specific environment. Adaptations develop as the result of natural selection operating on random genetic variations that are capable of being passed from one generation to the next. Variations that prove advantageous will tend to spread throughout the population.
a closer look
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Cultural definitions for adaptation
The changes made by living systems in response to their environment. Heavy fur, for example, is one adaptation to a cold climate.
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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