Container indicator

adopt

“adopt” is a container indicator in cryptic crosswords.

One piece of wordplay is wrapped around or inserted into another. Containers use the imagery of holding, enclosing, or swallowing.

Clue types: Container
Forms: adopts, adopting
Subtlety: subtle
Part of speech: participle, verb
Themes: containment

Worked example

“San Francisco adopting the Spanish identity (4)”

Answer: SELF

Definition: "identity" — a word for one's own being. "San Francisco" gives SF (the city's initials). "the Spanish" gives EL (the definite article in Spanish). "adopting" tells SF to wrap around EL. SF containing EL spells S-EL-F, giving SELF.

Related indicators

about
absorb
accommodate
acquire
admit
amid
amidst
among
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around
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box
break
bury
cage
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