Present participle of adapt; the process of adjusting or modifying oneself or something to suit new conditions or environments. Involves changing behavior, structure, or function in response to circumstances.
From Latin adaptare meaning 'to fit to', from ad- (to) + aptare (to fit). The biological sense of organisms changing to survive in environments developed in the 18th century, expanding from the original meaning of making something suitable.
Adapting is perhaps the most crucial skill in both biological evolution and human success - it's the difference between thriving and merely surviving. Interestingly, the most successful adaptations often involve embracing change rather than resisting it.
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