Legal Dictionary
Main Entry:
adoptPronunciation:
&-'däptFunction:
transitive verb 1 : to take voluntarily (a child of other parents) as one's own child esp. in compliance with formal legal procedures —see also
EQUITABLE ADOPTION 2 : to take or accept as if one's own <[the company]
adopted the signature on the financing statement —
Barber-Greene Company v. Nat'l City Bank of Minneapolis, 816 Federal Reporter, Second Series 1267 (1987)>
3 : to accept formally and put into effect <
adopt a constitutional amendment> —
adopt·able /&-'däp-t&-b&l/ adjective —
adopt·abil·i·ty /&-"däp-t&-'bi-l&-tE/ adverb —
adop·tion /&-'däp-sh&n/ noun