the act of accepting with approval; favorable reception; "its adoption by society"; "the proposal found wide acceptance"
a legal proceeding that creates a parent-child relation between persons not related by blood; the adopted child is entitled to all privileges belonging to a natural child of the adoptive parents (including the right to inherit)
ask (for something); "He applied for a leave of absence"; "She applied for college"; "apply for a job"
refer (a word or name) to a person or thing; "He applied this racial slur to me!"
apply oneself to; "Please apply yourself to your homework"
be pertinent or relevant or applicable; "The same laws apply to you!"; "This theory holds for all irrational numbers"; "The same rules go for everyone"
engage or engross the interest or attention of beforehand or occupy urgently or obsessively; "His work preoccupies him"; "The matter preoccupies her completely--she cannot think of anything else"
occupy or take possession of beforehand or before another or appropriate for use in advance; "the army preoccupied the hills"
the act of demanding; "the kidnapper's exorbitant demands for money"
an urgent or peremptory request; "his demands for attention were unceasing"
the ability and desire to purchase goods and services; "the automobile reduced the demand for buggywhips"; "the demand exceeded the supply"
request urgently and forcefully; "The victim's family is demanding compensation"; "The boss demanded that he be fired immediately"; "She demanded to see the manager"
claim as due or just; "The bank demanded payment of the loan"
direct one's interest or attention towards; go into; "The pedophile turned to boys for satisfaction"; "People turn to mysticism at the turn of a millennium"
a writ issued by authority of law; usually compels the defendant's attendance in a civil suit; failure to appear results in a default judgment against the defendant
an order to appear in person at a given place and time