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# adaptor

noun (adaptor, adaptors; also spelled adapter)

«adaptor» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. An adaptor is a small device that lets you connect a plug or cable to a different kind of socket. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/adaptor/#m1)
2. An adaptor is something that changes a thing so it fits or works with another thing. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/adaptor/#m2)

### In the lessons

In everyday life travellers need a travel adaptor because plugs are different in the UK, Ireland, the USA, Australia and Europe. Phone chargers and computers use adaptors. In safety lessons: do not plug too many things into one adaptor, because it can overheat and start a fire. Phrases: travel adaptor, plug adaptor, power adaptor.

### Examples

- We need an adaptor to use our charger in Spain. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/adaptor/#x1)
- Dad bought a travel adaptor at the airport. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/adaptor/#x2)
- The adaptor changes a UK plug to fit a US socket. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/adaptor/#x3)
- Don't plug too many things into one adaptor. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/adaptor/#x4)
- My laptop has a power adaptor. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/adaptor/#x5)
- This adaptor lets old headphones fit the new phone. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/adaptor/#x6)
- The adaptor got hot, so Mum unplugged it. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/adaptor/#x7)

### Note

Countable noun. Both spellings are correct: «adaptor» is more common in British English for the device, «adapter» in American English. Comes from «adapt» (to change to fit). Safety: an overloaded adaptor can overheat — never plug adaptors into adaptors.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «adaptor» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/adaptor/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«adaptor» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/adaptor.html) on Mova free.