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# adaptor

«adaptor» in Mova's school dictionary: **a small device that lets you connect a plug or cable to a…** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 4 sentences of Mova's corpora that use it.

### part of speech

noun (adaptor, adaptors; also spelled adapter)

### meaning for a pupil

1) An adaptor is a small device that lets you connect a plug or cable to a different kind of socket. [tree →](https://md.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://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/adaptor/#m2)

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

### In the corpora

- [Plugs are different around the world, so travellers use a proper travel adaptor instead of forcing a plug in.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/217-kitchen-freezer-plugs-and-doors/3/)
- [Abroad, you use a proper travel adaptor rather than forcing a plug.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/217-kitchen-freezer-plugs-and-doors/15/)
- [On holiday use a proper travel adaptor and never force a plug.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/322-blenders-sleeves-frozen-metal-plugs-balconies-medicine-and-fireworks/3/)
- [Forcing a plug into the wrong socket can damage it and cause an electric shock; use a proper travel adaptor.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/322-blenders-sleeves-frozen-metal-plugs-balconies-medicine-and-fireworks/13/)

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every meaning and example of «adaptor» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/adaptor/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.