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inhibit - 5 dictionary results

in⋅hib⋅it

[in-hib-it]
–verb (used with object)
1. to restrain, hinder, arrest, or check (an action, impulse, etc.).
2. to prohibit; forbid.
3. Psychology. to consciously or unconsciously suppress or restrain (psychologically or sociologically unacceptable behavior).
4. Chemistry. to decrease the rate of action of or stop (a chemical reaction).

Origin:
1425–75; late ME inhibiten < L inhibitus, ptp. of inhibēre to restrain, equiv. to in- in- 2 + -hibēre, comb. form of habēre to have, hold


in⋅hib⋅it⋅a⋅ble, adjective
in⋅hib⋅i⋅to⋅ry [in-hib-i-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee] , in⋅hib⋅i⋅tive, adjective


1. repress, discourage, obstruct. 2. interdict. See forbid.
in·hib·it   (ĭn-hĭb'ĭt)   
tr.v.   in·hib·it·ed, in·hib·it·ing, in·hib·its
  1. To hold back; restrain. See Synonyms at restrain.
  2. To prohibit; forbid.
  3. Psychology To suppress or restrain (behavior, an impulse, or a desire) consciously or unconsciously.
    1. Chemistry To prevent or decrease the rate of (a reaction).
    2. Biology To decrease, limit, or block the action or function of (an enzyme or organ, for example).

[Middle English inhibiten, to forbid, from Latin inhibēre, inhibit-, to restrain, forbid : in-, in; see in-2 + habēre, to hold; see ghabh- in Indo-European roots.]
in·hib'it·a·ble adj., in·hib'i·tive, in·hib'i·to'ry (-tôr'ē, -tōr'ē) adj.

Inhibit

In*hib"it\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Inhibited; p. pr. & vb. n. Inhibiting.] [L. inhibitus, p. p. of inhibere; pref. in- in + habere to have, hold. See Habit.]

1. To check; to hold back; to restrain; to hinder.

Their motions also are excited or inhibited . . . by the objects without them. --Bentley.

2. To forbid; to prohibit; to interdict.

All men were inhibited, by proclamation, at the dissolution, so much as to mention a Parliament. --Clarendon.

Burial may not be inhibited or denied to any one. --Ayliffe.
Language Translation for : inhibit
Spanish: impedir,
German: hemmen,
Japanese: 抑制する

Main Entry: in·hib·it
Pronunciation: in-'hib-&t
Function: transitive verb
1 a : to restrain from free or spontaneous activityespecially through the operation of inner psychological or external social constraints inhibited person> b : to check or restrain the force or vitality of<inhibit aggressive tendencies>
2 a : to reduce or suppress the activity of inhibit it —H. W. Kendler> b : to retard or prevent the formation of c : to retard, interfere with, or prevent (a process or reaction)<inhibit ovulation>

inhibit in·hib·it (ĭn-hĭb'ĭt)
v. in·hib·it·ed, in·hib·it·ing, in·hib·its

  1. To hold back; restrain.
  2. To suppress or restrain a behavioral process, an impulse, or a desire consciously or unconsciously.
  3. To prevent or decrease the rate of a chemical reaction.
  4. To decrease, limit, or block the action or function of something in the body, as an enzyme or organ.

in·hib'i·to'ry (-tôr'ē) adj.

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