Definition of adoption

• the act of accepting with approval; favorable reception; "its adoption by society"; "the proposal found wide acceptance"
• 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 appropriation (of ideas or words etc) from another source; "the borrowing of ancient motifs was very apparent"