Verb
1. choose and follow; as of theories, ideas, policies, strategies or plans;
"She followed the feminist movement""The candidate espouses Republican ideals"2. take up and practice as one's own
3. take on titles, offices, duties, responsibilities;
"When will the new President assume office?"4. take on a certain form, attribute, or aspect;
"His voice took on a sad tone""The story took a new turn""he adopted an air of superiority""She assumed strange manners""The gods assume human or animal form in these fables"5. take into one's family;
"They adopted two children from Nicaragua"6. put into dramatic form;
"adopt a book for a screenplay"7. take up the cause, ideology, practice, method, of someone and use it as one's own;
"She embraced Catholocism""They adopted the Jewish faith"