ETYM Latin adoptio, allied to adoptare to adopt: cf. French adoption.
1. The act of accepting with approval; favorable reception; SYN. acceptance.
2. The appropriation (of ideas or words etc) from another source
3. Permanent legal transfer of parental rights and duties from one person to another, usually to provide care for children who would otherwise lack family upbringing.
State laws determine processes for adoption, rights of adoptees (such as access to information about natural parents), and inheritance rights. See also custody of children.