adjective, verb, -at⋅ed, -at⋅ing.| 1. | suitable or fitting for a particular purpose, person, occasion, etc.: an appropriate example; an appropriate dress. |
| 2. | belonging to or peculiar to a person; proper: Each played his appropriate part. |
| 3. | to set apart, authorize, or legislate for some specific purpose or use: The legislature appropriated funds for the university. |
| 4. | to take to or for oneself; take possession of. |
| 5. | to take without permission or consent; seize; expropriate: He appropriated the trust funds for himself. |
| 6. | to steal, esp. to commit petty theft. |

ap·pro·pri·ate (ə-prō'prē-ĭt) adj. Suitable for a particular person, condition, occasion, or place; fitting. tr.v. (-āt') ap·pro·pri·at·ed, ap·pro·pri·at·ing, ap·pro·pri·ates
[Middle English appropriat, from Late Latin appropriātus, past participle of appropriāre, to make one's own : Latin ad-, ad- + Latin proprius, own; see per1 in Indo-European roots.] ap·pro'pri·ate·ly adv., ap·pro'pri·ate·ness n., ap·pro'pri·a'tive (-ā'tĭv) adj., ap·pro'pri·a'tor n. Synonyms: These verbs mean to seize for oneself or as one's right: appropriated the family car; arrogated the chair at the head of the table; commandeered a plane for the escape; confiscating stolen property; preempted the glory for herself; usurped the throne. See Also Synonyms at allocate. |