adapter

noun

Simple meaning

a device that helps two different things work together well

Pronunciation

Say it like this:

uhdapter

Say the bold part a little louder.

US device voice

IPA pronunciation (US)

əˈdæptɚ

This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.

IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.

Word Review

Definition

Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.

noun

Specifically, a device that permits two or more plugs to be used at a single electrical power point.
Specifically, a device that allows one format of plug to be used with a different format of socket.
A device or application used to achieve operative compatibility between devices that otherwise are incompatible.
Specifically, an AC adapter: a device that reduces voltage and converts AC to DC to allow a battery-powered device to use mains power.
One who is capable of adapting to differing situations.
A musician who adapts a composition for particular voices or instruments or for another style of performance

Word at a Glance

Difficulty: A2 · Elementary (estimated)
Frequency: Common
Typical Use: Everyday English

Word Aura™

How this word commonly comes across.

Aura for this meaning

This meaning: Specifically, a device that permits two or more plugs to be used at a single electrical power point.

An 'adapter' is a physical device that connects different types of plugs or converts power. It solves compatibility issues, often used to make two incompatible things work together.

Emotional tone: Neutral
Formality: Neutral
Intensity: Not strongly marked
How common: Moderately common
Connotation: Matter-of-fact
Usage feel: Neutral and straightforward

Where you'll really hear it

Electronics store
“You'll need a travel adapter for international power outlets.”
Tech support
“Check if your power adapter is correctly plugged into the wall.”
Home office setup
“This adapter lets me connect my old monitor to the new laptop.”

Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.

More ways to use adapter

“I need a travel adapter to charge my phone in Europe.”noun

Common Patterns and Combinations

How this word naturally appears with others.

Specifically

power adapter

Device

display adapterlan adapter

Other combinations

network adaptergraphics adapterhost adapteradapter cardvideo adapter

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Word Family

Related forms, grouped by how they connect.

Inflected forms

Grammatical variations of the same word.

adaptverbBase word
Make fit for, or change to suit a new purpose.

Word family

Words built from the same root.

adaptornounPerson or profession · specialist
Device that enables something to be used in a way different from that for which it was intended or makes different pieces of apparatus compatible.
adaptationnounDerived noun
A written work (as a novel) that has been recast in a new form.
adaptiveadjectiveDerived adjective
Having a capacity for adaptation.
adaptableadjectiveDerived adjective
Capable of adapting (of becoming or being made suitable) to a particular situation or use.

Compound terms

Established multiword terms.

display adapternounCompound term
An electronic device that converts information in memory to video output to a display.

Related Words

Connected to the same idea, not synonyms.

modemnoun
headphonenoun
monochromenoun
adaptornoun
pluggedadjective

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Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.