Dictionary

adaptive en · ADJ

Pronunciation

/əˈdæp.tɪv/ (US)
(Southern-England) audio

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂éd Proto-Italic *ad Proto-Italic *ad- Latin ad- Proto-Indo-European *h₂ep- Proto-Indo-European *-tós Proto-Indo-European *h₂ptós Proto-Italic *aptos Latin aptus Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂yéti Proto-Indo-European *-h₂tiinflu. Proto-Italic *-ājō Proto-Italic *-āō Latin -ō Proto-Indo-European [Term?]der. Proto-Italic *apjō Latin apiō Proto-Indo-European *-tós Proto-Italic *-tos Latin -tus ▲ Latin -ō Latin -tō Latin aptō Latin adaptōder. Middle English *adapten English adapt Proto-Indo-European *-wós Proto-Indo-European *-iHwósder. Latin -īvus Old French -ifbor. Middle English -yf English -ive English adaptive From adapt + -ive.

Meanings

Of, pertaining to, characterized by or showing adaptation; making or made fit or suitable.
- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says it issued a final rule allowing what’s called “adaptive driving beam headlights” on new vehicles. It will go into effect when published in the Federal Register in the next few days.
- That variation of germinal origin is a fact in organic nature is admitted on all hands, and that some variations are adaptive is also unquestioned. 1896, C. Lloyd Morgan, On Modification and Variation:
- Advanced vehicle technologies, including automatic emergency braking and adaptive cruise control, were available as standard equipment for this truck-tractor; however, the carrier opted not to purchase these systems. We found that the collision may have been avoided or its severity lessened had these systems been installed on the truck-tractor. Because commercial vehicle customers can elect not to purchase collision avoidance systems, even those that are considered standard equipment, federal requirements are necessary to increase widespread deployment of this technology. 2024, NTSB, Highway Investigation Report, HIR-24-05:
- The real affinities of all organic beings, in contradistinction to their adaptive resemblances, are due to inheritance or community of descent. 1859, Charles Darwin, The Origin of Species:
Capable of being adapted or of adapting; susceptible of or undergoing accordant change.
(qualifier:evolutionary theory) Of a trait: that helps an organism to function well in its environment.
Of a trait: that helps a person to function well in society.

Forms

Spelling	Features	Labels	Source
more adaptive	Degree=Cmp		lexicographic
most adaptive	Degree=Sup		lexicographic

Antonyms

maladaptive

Deriveds

adapted · adaptation · nonadaptivity · adaptedness · nonadaptiveness · nonadaptive · adaptly · adaptably · adaptness · adapter · adaptorial · adaptionary · nonadaptively · adaptatively · adapt · adaptative · adaptational · adaptableness · adaptional · adaptativeness · adaptability · adaption · adaptable · adaptationary · adaptitude

Synonyms

adaptative · adaptable (capable of being adapted)

Translations (38)

id adaptif (of, pertaining to, characterized by or showing adaptation; making or made fit or suitable) · bg адапти́вен (capable of being adapted or of adapting; susceptible of or undergoing accordant change) · fr adaptable (capable of being adapted or of adapting; susceptible of or undergoing accordant change) · fa سازگار (of, pertaining to, characterized by or showing adaptation; making or made fit or suitable) · fr adaptatif (of a trait: that helps an individual to function well in society) · fi mukautuva (of, pertaining to, characterized by or showing adaptation; making or made fit or suitable) · it adattivo (of, pertaining to, characterized by or showing adaptation; making or made fit or suitable) · es adaptativo (of, pertaining to, characterized by or showing adaptation; making or made fit or suitable) · fi sopeutuva (capable of being adapted or of adapting; susceptible of or undergoing accordant change) · pl adaptatywny (of, pertaining to, characterized by or showing adaptation; making or made fit or suitable) · sh prilagodljiv (of a trait: that helps an individual to function well in society) · pl adaptatywny (capable of being adapted or of adapting; susceptible of or undergoing accordant change) · pl adaptacyjny (of, pertaining to, characterized by or showing adaptation; making or made fit or suitable) · sh prilagodljiv (capable of being adapted or of adapting; susceptible of or undergoing accordant change) · ru адапти́вный (of, pertaining to, characterized by or showing adaptation; making or made fit or suitable) · kk бейімделген (of, pertaining to, characterized by or showing adaptation; making or made fit or suitable) · nl adaptief (of, pertaining to, characterized by or showing adaptation; making or made fit or suitable) · fi sopeutuva (of, pertaining to, characterized by or showing adaptation; making or made fit or suitable) · sh prilagodljiv (of, pertaining to, characterized by or showing adaptation; making or made fit or suitable) · be адапты́ўны (of, pertaining to, characterized by or showing adaptation; making or made fit or suitable) · de adaptiv (of, pertaining to, characterized by or showing adaptation; making or made fit or suitable) · fi sopeutuva (of a trait: that helps an individual to function well in society) · fr adaptatif (of, pertaining to, characterized by or showing adaptation; making or made fit or suitable) · es adaptativo (of a trait: that helps an individual to function well in society) · pt adaptativo (of, pertaining to, characterized by or showing adaptation; making or made fit or suitable) · fi mukautuva (capable of being adapted or of adapting; susceptible of or undergoing accordant change) · sh adaptabilan (capable of being adapted or of adapting; susceptible of or undergoing accordant change) · fi joustava (of, pertaining to, characterized by or showing adaptation; making or made fit or suitable) · bg адапти́вен (of a trait: that helps an individual to function well in society) · es adaptable (capable of being adapted or of adapting; susceptible of or undergoing accordant change) · sh adaptabilan (of a trait: that helps an individual to function well in society) · fi joustava (capable of being adapted or of adapting; susceptible of or undergoing accordant change) · ms mudah suai (of, pertaining to, characterized by or showing adaptation; making or made fit or suitable) · pl adaptacyjny (capable of being adapted or of adapting; susceptible of or undergoing accordant change) · fi adaptiivinen (of a trait: that helps an individual to function well in society) · sh adaptabilan (of, pertaining to, characterized by or showing adaptation; making or made fit or suitable) · bg адапти́вен (of, pertaining to, characterized by or showing adaptation; making or made fit or suitable) · ca adaptatiu (of, pertaining to, characterized by or showing adaptation; making or made fit or suitable)