ada|gio /ədɑː dʒioʊ, [AM ] -dʒoʊ/ (adagios )
1 ADV [ADV after v] Adagio written above a piece of music means that it should be played slowly.
2 N‑COUNT [usu sing] An adagio is a piece of music that is played slowly. □ …Samuel Barber's Adagio For Strings. □ …the Adagio movement of his Sixth Symphony.
ada|mant /æ dəmənt/ ADJ [usu v-link ADJ , oft ADJ that] If someone is adamant about something, they are determined not to change their mind about it. □ The prime minister is adamant that he will not resign. □ [+ about ] Sue was adamant about that job in Australia. ● ada|mant|ly ADV [usu ADV with v, oft ADV adj] □ She was adamantly opposed to her husband travelling to Brussels.
Adam's ap|ple /æ d ə mz æ p ə l/ (Adam's apples ) N‑COUNT Your Adam's apple is the lump that sticks out of the front of your neck below your throat.
a|dapt /ədæ pt/ (adapts , adapting , adapted )
1 VERB If you adapt to a new situation or adapt yourself to it, you change your ideas or behaviour in order to deal with it successfully. □ [V + to ] The world will be different, and we will have to be prepared to adapt to the change. □ [V pron-refl + to ] They have had to adapt themselves to a war economy. [Also V ]
2 VERB If you adapt something, you change it to make it suitable for a new purpose or situation. □ [V n] Shelves were built to adapt the library for use as an office. [Also V n + to ]
3 VERB If you adapt a book or play, you change it so that it can be made into a film or a television programme. □ [V n] The scriptwriter helped him to adapt his novel for the screen. □ [be V -ed] The film has been adapted from a play of the same title.
4 → see also adapted
adapt|able /ədæ ptəb ə l/ ADJ If you describe a person or animal as adaptable , you mean that they are able to change their ideas or behaviour in order to deal with new situations. □ …a more adaptable and skilled workforce. ● adapt|abil|ity /ədæ ptəb I l I ti/ N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] The adaptability of wool is one of its great attractions.
ad|ap|ta|tion /æ dæpte I ʃ ə n/ (adaptations )
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.
6 to 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.