adaptor
adaptor — noun
1. a small plug, often with several outlets, that lets you run more than one electr
a small plug, often with several outlets, that lets you run more than one electrical item from a single wall socket, or that lets a plug from one country fit a socket of a different shape.
Hugo bought a travel adaptor before his trip to Tokyo so his laptop charger would fit Japanese sockets.
travel adaptor for foreign sockets
The hotel room had only one wall socket, so Layla used an adaptor to plug in her phone and hairdryer.
adaptor connects multiple devices to one socket
Never overload an adaptor by plugging in too many high-power devices at once.
Allison keeps a three-way adaptor in her desk drawer for the office Christmas lights.
The reading lamp came with a European plug, so Joshua needed an adaptor to use it in London.
- plug adaptor
more specific compound, often used in instructions
- power adaptor
narrower — usually refers to a unit that also converts voltage
文法句型
plug an adaptor into [socket]
用法筆記
Often appears in compounds such as 'travel adaptor', 'plug adaptor', or 'three-way adaptor'. British spelling; American English usually writes 'adapter'.
常見錯誤
2. a small piece of hardware that links one device to another when their plugs, por
a small piece of hardware that links one device to another when their plugs, ports, or pipes do not match — for example a part that lets a USB-C cable plug into an older laptop, or that joins two pipes of different widths.
Yuna bought a USB-C to HDMI adaptor so she could connect her tablet to the classroom projector.
adaptor for joining incompatible ports
The plumber fitted a brass adaptor between the new tap and the old copper pipe.
adaptor for pipes of different sizes
Without the right adaptor, the headphones simply will not work with this phone.
Sahil kept a small bag of camera adaptors so he could mount any lens on his old film body.
The new microphone comes with an adaptor for both standard and mini-jack inputs.
文法句型
adaptor for [device]
adaptor between A and B
用法筆記
Subject of the connection is usually two specific objects whose interfaces differ; the preposition 'for' introduces the target device, while 'between' names both sides.
常見錯誤
3. a writer who reworks an existing novel, play, or other written work — usually wi
a writer who reworks an existing novel, play, or other written work — usually with only small changes to plot or dialogue — preparing the text for a new format such as the stage, screen, or radio.
Nkechi was hired as the adaptor of the bestselling novel for the Royal Court stage.
adaptor of [work] for [venue]
A skilled adaptor knows which scenes from the book must be cut to fit a two-hour film.
general statement using 'a skilled adaptor'
Vinícius works as an adaptor, turning Brazilian short stories into radio plays for the BBC.
The adaptor kept most of the original dialogue and only trimmed the longer monologues.
- adapter
same role; the more frequent spelling, especially in American English
- screenwriter
narrower — only when the new form is a film or TV script
- author
creates the original work rather than reshaping someone else's
文法句型
adaptor of [work]
用法筆記
Less common than 'adapter' in this sense; 'screenwriter' or 'playwright' is often used when the new form is specifically a film or stage play.