Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

1 N‑COUNT An adaptation of a book or play is a film or a television programme that is based on it. □ [+ of ] …Branagh's screen adaptation of Shakespeare's Henry the Fifth.

2 N‑UNCOUNT Adaptation is the act of changing something or changing your behaviour to make it suitable for a new purpose or situation. □  Most living creatures are capable of adaptation when compelled to do so.

a|dapt|ed /ədæ pt I d/ ADJ If something is adapted to a particular situation or purpose, it is especially suitable for it. □ [+ to/for ] The camel's feet, well adapted for dry sand, are useless on mud.

adap|tion /ədæ pʃ ^ə n/ (adaptions ) N‑VAR Adaption means the same as adaptation .

adap|tive /ədæ pt I v/ ADJ Adaptive means having the ability or tendency to adapt to different situations. [FORMAL ] □  Societies need to develop highly adaptive behavioural rules for survival.

adap|tor /ədæ ptə ^r / (adaptors ) also adapter

1 N‑COUNT An adaptor is a special device for connecting electrical equipment to a power supply, or for connecting different pieces of electrical or electronic equipment together.

2 N‑COUNT The adaptor of a book or play is the person who rewrites it for a film or a television programme.

add ◆◆◆ /æ d/ (adds , adding , added )

1 VERB If you add one thing to another, you put it in or on the other thing, to increase, complete, or improve it. □ [V n + to ] Add the grated cheese to the sauce. □ [be V -ed + to ] Since 1908, chlorine has been added to drinking water. □ [V n + to ] He wants to add a huge sports complex to Binfield Manor. [Also V n]

2 VERB If you add numbers or amounts together , you calculate their total. □ [V n with together ] Banks add all the interest and other charges together. □ [V -ed together ] Two and three added together are five. ● PHRASAL VERB Add up means the same as add . □ [V P ] More than a quarter of seven year-olds cannot add up properly. □ [V n P ] We just added all the numbers up and divided one by the other. □ [V P ] He said the numbers simply did not add up.

3 VERB If one thing adds to another, it makes the other thing greater in degree or amount. □ [V + to ] This latest incident will add to the pressure on the government.

4 VERB To add a particular quality to something means to cause it to have that quality. □ [V n] The generous amount of garlic adds flavour. □ [V n + to ] Pictures add interest to plain painted walls.

5 VERB If you add something when you are speaking, you say something more. □ [V with quote] 'You can tell that he is extremely embarrassed,' Mr Brigden added. □ [V that] The President agreed, adding that he hoped for a peaceful solution.

6to add insult to injury → see insult

▸  add in PHRASAL VERB If you add in something, you include it as a part of something else. □ [V P n] Once the vegetables start to cook add in a couple of tablespoons of water.

▸  add on

1 PHRASAL VERB [usu passive] If one thing is added on to another, it is attached to the other thing, or is made a part of it. □ [V P n] Holiday-makers can also add on a week in Majorca before or after the cruise. □ [V -ed P ] To the rear is a large dining room–added on early this century.

2 PHRASAL VERB If you add on an extra amount or item to a list or total, you include it. □ [V P n] Many loan application forms automatically add on insurance. [Also V n P ]

▸  add up

1 → see add 2