'co-opt' definitions:

Definition of 'co-opt'

verb

Choose or elect as a fellow member or colleague; "The church members co-opted individuals from similar backgrounds to replenish the congregation"

verb

Neutralize or win over through assimilation into an established group; "We co-opted the independent minority tribes by pulling them into the Northern Alliance"

verb

Appoint summarily or commandeer; "The army tried to co-opt peasants into civil defence groups"

verb

Take or assume for one's own use; "He co-opted the criticism and embraced it"

Definition of 'co-opt'

From: 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]