Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
adjOf, pertaining to, characterized by or showing adaptation; making or made fit or suitable.
adjCapable of being adapted or of adapting; susceptible of or undergoing accordant change.
Sentence Examples
Spiders are very adaptive, especially when spinning a web.
The authors looked at two different adaptive radiations in the fossil record.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The ____ software changes its settings based on user behavior to improve efficiency.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The robot has ____ sensors that help it avoid obstacles.
Word Origin & History
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *h₂éd
Proto-Italic *ad
Proto-Italic *ad-
Latin ad-
Proto-Italic *aptos
Latin aptus
Proto-Indo-European *-h₂
Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂
Proto-Indo-European *-yéti
Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂yéti
Proto-Italic *-āō
Latin -ō
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.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"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:
"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: