Library / English Dictionary

CO-OPT

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Take or assume for one's own use

Example:

He co-opted the criticism and embraced it

Classified under:

Verbs of buying, selling, owning

Hypernyms (to "co-opt" is one way to...):

accept; take (make use of or accept for some purpose)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 2

Meaning:

Appoint summarily or commandeer

Example:

The army tried to co-opt peasants into civil defence groups

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "co-opt" is one way to...):

appoint; constitute; name; nominate (create and charge with a task or function)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

co-optation; co-option (the act of appointing summarily (with or without the appointee's consent))

Sense 3

Meaning:

Choose or elect as a fellow member or colleague

Example:

The church members co-opted individuals from similar backgrounds to replenish the congregation

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "co-opt" is one way to...):

elect (select by a vote for an office or membership)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

co-optation; co-option (the selection of a new member (usually by a vote of the existing membership))

Sense 4

Meaning:

Neutralize or win over through assimilation into an established group

Example:

We co-opted the independent minority tribes by pulling them into the Northern Alliance

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "co-opt" is one way to...):

neutralize (make politically neutral and thus inoffensive)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

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