Adaptation
Etymology
From Latin "adaptare" (to fit to), from "ad-" (to) and "aptare" (to fit), from "aptus" (suited). The core idea is fit — a match achieved between an organism or object and its surroundings.
noun · /ad-ap-TAY-shun/
The process or result of adjusting to fit new conditions.
What it names
A general principle spanning biology, psychology, and design — the reshaping of a thing by the pressures it meets.
Example
The thick fur was an adaptation to cold, useless and even dangerous once the climate warmed.
Related idea
An adaptation is a trait shaped by selection for its current use; an exaptation is a trait co-opted for a use it was not originally selected for, as feathers evolved for warmth before flight.
noun · /ad-ap-TAY-shun/
A work recast into a new medium — a novel turned into a film, a play into an opera.
What it names
a version of a story retold in another form
Example
The film was a surprisingly faithful adaptation of the sprawling novel.
Related idea
Unlike a parody, which distorts a work for comic effect, an adaptation aims to carry it faithfully across a boundary of form.
noun · /ad-ap-TAY-shun/
In biology, an inherited trait shaped by natural selection because it improves an organism’s chances of surviving and reproducing.
What it names
an evolved feature suited to its environment
Example
The polar bear’s thick fur and small ears are adaptations to Arctic cold.
Related idea
An adaptation is built into the body over generations, whereas an instinct is a behavior wired into the mind.