1. the act of accepting with approval; favorable reception;
"its adoption by society"
"the proposal found wide acceptance"
2. 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)
3. the appropriation (of ideas or words etc) from another source;
"the borrowing of ancient motifs was very apparent"