behavior
Use Behavior in a sentence
yər noun
1.
manner of behaving or acting.
2.
Psychology, Animal Behavior.
a.
observable activity in a human or animal.
b.
the aggregate of responses to internal and external stimuli.
c.
a stereotyped, species-specific activity, as a courtship dance or startle reflex.
3.
Often, behaviors. a behavior pattern.
4.
the action or reaction of any material under given circumstances: the behavior of tin under heat.
Also, especially British, behaviour.
Origin:
1375–1425; behave + -ior (on model of havior, variant of havor < Middle French (h)avoir ≪ Latin habēre to have); replacing late Middle English behavoure, behaver. See behave, -or1
1375–1425; behave + -ior (on model of havior, variant of havor < Middle French (h)avoir ≪ Latin habēre to have); replacing late Middle English behavoure, behaver. See behave, -or1
Related forms
be·hav·ior·al, adjective
be·hav·ior·al·ly, adverb
in·ter·be·hav·ior, noun
in·ter·be·hav·ior·al, adjective
in·ter·be·hav·ior·al·ly, adverb
Synonyms
1. demeanor, manners; bearing, carriage. Behavior, conduct, deportment, comportment refer to one's actions before or toward others, especially on a particular occasion. Behavior refers to actions usually measured by commonly accepted standards: His behavior at the party was childish. Conduct refers to actions viewed collectively, especially as measured by an ideal standard: Conduct is judged according to principles of ethics. Deportment is behavior related to a code or to an arbitrary standard: Deportment is guided by rules of etiquette. The teacher gave Susan a mark of B in deportment. Comportment is behavior as viewed from the standpoint of one's management of one's own actions: His comportment was marked by a quiet assurance.
1. demeanor, manners; bearing, carriage. Behavior, conduct, deportment, comportment refer to one's actions before or toward others, especially on a particular occasion. Behavior refers to actions usually measured by commonly accepted standards: His behavior at the party was childish. Conduct refers to actions viewed collectively, especially as measured by an ideal standard: Conduct is judged according to principles of ethics. Deportment is behavior related to a code or to an arbitrary standard: Deportment is guided by rules of etiquette. The teacher gave Susan a mark of B in deportment. Comportment is behavior as viewed from the standpoint of one's management of one's own actions: His comportment was marked by a quiet assurance.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Link To behavior
00:10
Behavior
is always a great word to know.
So is lollapalooza. Does it mean:
| a stew of meat, vegetables, potatoes, etc. |
| an extraordinary or unusual thing, person, or event; an exceptional example or instance. |
Collins
World English Dictionary
behaviour or behavior (bɪˈheɪvjə) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —n | |
| 1. | manner of behaving or conducting oneself |
| 2. | on one's best behaviour behaving with careful good manners |
| 3. | psychol |
| a. the aggregate of all the responses made by an organism in any situation | |
| b. a specific response of a certain organism to a specific stimulus or group of stimuli | |
| 4. | the action, reaction, or functioning of a system, under normal or specified circumstances |
| [C15: from | |
| behavior or behavior | |
| —n | |
| [C15: from | |
| be'havioural or behavior | |
| —adj | |
| be'havioral or behavior | |
| —adj | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary
behavior be·hav·ior (bĭ-hāv'yər)
n.
The actions or reactions of persons or things in response to external or internal stimuli.
The manner in which one behaves.
be·hav'ior·al adj.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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American Heritage
Science Dictionary
behavior (bĭ-hāv'yər) Pronunciation Key
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The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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American Heritage
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Example sentences
He had decreed a new code of conduct for royal behavior, but it had not been published.
When the staff tried to discipline him by taking away his recreation or his television privileges, his behavior worsened.
Scientific students of linguistic behavior don't miss any of the romance of language.
Later policy periods use a performance rating, in which driving behavior and total mileage determine the discount.
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