Adapted Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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adapted

[əˈdæptɪd ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Adjective

in a modified form

Changed in order to improve or be better suited for a new purpose or situation.

Synonyms

adjusted, altered, modified.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
adapted

Used when something has been changed to be suitable for a new use or purpose, often implying a more thorough or comprehensive change.

  • The novel was adapted into a film.
  • She adapted her teaching methods to meet the new curriculum.
modified

Best used when something has been partially changed or improved, often used in technical contexts.

  • The car was modified for better performance.
  • The recipe was modified to be gluten-free.
adjusted

Appropriate when a small or subtle change has been made to improve the functionality or appearance of something.

  • He adjusted his glasses.
  • The engineer adjusted the settings on the machine.
altered

Implies a noticeable change in form or character, which can be for better or worse.

  • She altered the dress to fit better.
  • The landscape was altered by the construction project.

Examples of usage

  • The adapted screenplay was well-received by critics.
  • She adapted the recipe to make it gluten-free.
  • The car was adapted for use by people with disabilities.
Context #2 | Verb

to adjust or modify

To make changes to something in order to make it suitable for a new use or situation.

Synonyms

adjust, alter, modify.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
adjust

Used when making small changes to achieve the desired fit, appearance, or result.

  • He adjusted his tie before the meeting.
  • You may need to adjust the seat to your height.
modify

Used when making changes to something, often to improve it or make it less extreme.

  • You can modify the settings of the application to suit your needs.
  • His diet was modified to include more vegetables.
alter

Used when making more substantial changes to something, often permanently.

  • She had to alter her wedding dress at the last moment.
  • The course of the river was altered to prevent flooding.

Examples of usage

  • He adapted quickly to his new job.
  • The plants adapted to the changing climate.
  • She adapted her schedule to accommodate the new project.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Interesting Facts

Science

  • Many species evolve over time through adaptation, enhancing their survival in specific environments.
  • The process of adaptation can lead to variations in physical traits, such as beak shapes in birds and fur color in animals.
  • In ecology, adaptations can be behavioral, physiological, or structural, showcasing the diverse strategies in the animal kingdom.

Psychology

  • Individuals often adapt their behaviors or thoughts to cope with new challenges or changes in their environment.
  • Cognitive adaptation helps people adjust to losses, such as moving to a new city or changing jobs, aiding emotional resilience.
  • The concept of 'adaptation level theory' suggests that people evaluate new experiences based on previous ones.

Technology

  • Software often needs to be adapted to fit different operating systems, ensuring compatibility and user-friendliness.
  • Adaptation in technology can involve updates that change a product's features according to user feedback and evolving needs.
  • The iterative design process in tech development emphasizes continuous adaptation in response to user experiences.

Literature

  • Many novels and stories are adapted into movies, where characters and plots may change to fit a different medium.
  • Adaptation is a central theme in literature, often exploring how characters grow and change in response to their circumstances.
  • Play adaptations take original texts and transform them into performances, showcasing different interpretations of the same story.

Origin of 'adapted'

Main points about word origin

  • Derived from the Latin word 'adaptare', meaning 'to adjust'.
  • The concept evolved through both French and Middle English, indicating a long history of the word in English.
  • Initially used in the 1600s, the term has grown to include various contexts in modern language.

The word 'adapted' comes from the Latin word 'adaptare', which means 'to fit'. The concept of adaptation has been crucial for the survival and evolution of species in nature. In human context, adaptation refers to the ability to adjust to new conditions or situations. The word has been used in various fields such as biology, literature, and technology to describe the process of modification or adjustment for a new purpose.


See also: adapt, adaptability, adaptable, adaptably, adaptation, adaptations, adapter, adapters, adapting, adaptive, maladaptation, readapt.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #2,583, this word belongs to solid intermediate vocabulary. It's frequently used in both casual and formal contexts and is worth learning for better fluency.