n 1  :  the act or process of adapting  :  the state of being adapted <his ingenious of the electric cautery knife to … surgery -George Blumer>   2  :  adjustment to environmental conditions: as  a  :  adjustment of a sense organ to the intensity or quality of stimulation  b  :  modification of an organism or its parts that makes it more fit for existence under the conditions of its environment - compare ADJUSTMENT1b   ad*ap*ta*tion*al adj ad*ap*ta*tion*al*ly adv 
 
   
 
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