Coopt

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  co-opt \co-opt"\, coopt \co*["o]pt"\, v. t. [See {Cooptate}. Cf.
     F. coopter.]
     To choose or elect in concert with another. [R.]
     [1913 Webster]
  
           Each of the hundred was to coopt three others. --Jowett


                                                    (Thucyd.).
     [1913 Webster]
  
     2. To choose or elect as a colleague or fellow member of a
        group; as, The church members co-opted individuals from
        similar backgrounds to replenish the congregation.
        [PJC + WordNet 1.5]
  
     3. To assimilate (a smaller group) into a larger group.
        [PJC]
  
     4. To persuade an opponent to join one's own side.
        [PJC]
  
     5. To appoint summarily (with or without the appointee's
        consent).
        [WordNet 1.5]
  
     6. To appropriate (something rightly belonging to another) as
        one's own; to preempt; as, to co-opt someone's name.
        [PJC]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  co-opt
       v 1: choose or elect as a fellow member or colleague; "The church
            members co-opted individuals from similar backgrounds to
            replenish the congregation"
       2: neutralize or win over through assimilation into an
          established group; "We co-opted the independent minority
          tribes by pulling them into the Northern Alliance"
       3: appoint summarily or commandeer; "The army tried to co-opt
          peasants into civil defence groups"
       4: take or assume for one's own use; "He co-opted the criticism
          and embraced it"