ENGLISH
REFERENCE

adapter

n. countable
B1 Intermediate US //əˈdæptɝ// UK //ɐdˈæptɐ// adapter

n. a small tool that lets you connect two pieces of equipment that were not made to fit together. You often use one when you travel to a country with different electrical plugs.

n. a device for connecting pieces of equipment that cannot be joined directly. Often refers to a hardware component that converts one voltage or physical interface to another.


SIMPLE

I need a travel adapter for my laptop charger.

CONTEXTUAL

Since the old monitor only has a VGA port, you will need a digital adapter to connect it to your new computer.

COMPLEX

The technician recommended a universal adapter to ensure compatibility between the legacy audio equipment and the modern digital recording interface.

Synonyms
Origin

From adapt + -er.

Usage

Commonly followed by 'for' to indicate the intended device or 'to' for the target connection.

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