(n) the act of accepting with approval; favorable reception, Syn. espousal, acceptance, acceptation, Example:its adoption by society; the proposal found wide acceptance
(n) a legal proceeding that creates a parent-child relation between persons not related by blood; the adopted child is entitled to all privileges belonging to a natural child of the adoptive parents (including the right to inherit)
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English (GCIDE) v.0.53 Collaborative International Dictionary (GCIDE)
n. [ L. adoptio, allied to adoptare to adopt: cf. F. adoption. ] 1. The act of adopting, or state of being adopted; voluntary acceptance of a child of other parents to be the same as one's own child. [ 1913 Webster ]
2. Admission to a more intimate relation; reception; as, the adoption of persons into hospitals or monasteries, or of one society into another. [ 1913 Webster ]
3. The choosing and making that to be one's own which originally was not so; acceptance; as, the adoption of opinions. Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]