adapter
Americannoun
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adapters
plural
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a person or thing that adapts.
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a connector for joining parts or devices having different sizes, designs, etc., enabling them to be fitted or to work together.
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Also called adapter plug, plug adapter. a device that connects an electrical plug to an outlet that has a different plug shape.
Last time I traveled, I brought the wrong adapter.
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Also called power adapter, AC adapter. a device with a cord that plugs into an electrical outlet and functions as an external power supply for a small or portable electronic device, usually converting AC current to DC.
I forgot to plug in the adapter, and my laptop died.
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an accessory to convert a machine, tool, or part to a new or modified use.
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Computers.
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an external device containing the necessary circuitry to connect to or work with another device or system.
a network adapter;
a wireless adapter;
a video adapter.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of adapter
Explanation
When you have two pieces of equipment that can't be connected directly, you may need an adapter to plug one into another. You might need an adapter to connect your cellphone to a computer. Computers, televisions, and cameras are just some of the devices that often require adapters to be charged or used in different ways. One common kind of adapter makes it possible to put a two-pronged plug into an outlet with three holes. A different way to use the word adapter is for a person who changes — or adapts — one work of art to fit in a different medium, like an adapter who writes an opera based on a comic book.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Mr. Stone’s work both as adapter and director is impeccable.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026
Last week, he was comfortable admitting to BBC Scotland that he had packed a European plug adapter for his summer trip to the US.
From BBC ● Jun. 11, 2026
"Just as a USB adapter allows devices with different connectors to work together, Floquet magnons could bridge frequencies that would otherwise remain incompatible."
From Science Daily ● Mar. 27, 2026
The most practical option was an old-school corded phone and a cellular-to-landline adapter.
From Slate ● Jan. 27, 2026
The power adapter was there but no laptop.
From "Burning Blue" by Paul Griffin
Modern directors and adapters are wary of the civic and cosmic levels, perhaps out of fear that pagan prophets and citizen choruses will seem artificial or dated.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 6, 2026
If not, adapters are available for less than £10.
From BBC ● Jul. 12, 2025
Several, including Ford, have announced that future EVs will be built to accept Tesla plugs without a need for adapters.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 2, 2024
Ford has been mailing adapters to owners of its older electric vehicles so they can connect to Tesla’s chargers.
From New York Times ● Apr. 30, 2024
Again, there is another group of discoverer-inventors who occupy an intermediate position between the abstract discoverers above named and the inventors and adapters of still more recent times.
From Scientific American Supplement, No. 315, January 14, 1882 by Various
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
