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instinct

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in⋅stinct

1  [in-stingkt]
Use instinct in a Sentence
–noun
1. an inborn pattern of activity or tendency to action common to a given biological species.
2. a natural or innate impulse, inclination, or tendency.
3. a natural aptitude or gift: an instinct for making money.
4. natural intuitive power.
Origin:
1375–1425; late ME < L instinctus prompting, instigation, enthusiasm, equiv. to *insting(uere) (in- in- 2 + *sting(u)ere presumably, to prick; see distinct ) + -tus suffix of v. action

Synonyms:
3. genius, knack, faculty, talent.
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in⋅stinct

2  [in-stingkt]
–adjective
1. filled or infused with some animating principle (usually fol. by with): instinct with life.
2. Obsolete. animated by some inner force.
Origin:
1530–40; < L instinctus excited, roused, inspired, ptp. of *insting(u)ere; see instinct 1
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To instinct
in·stinct   (ĭn'stĭngkt')   
n.  

  1. An inborn pattern of behavior that is characteristic of a species and is often a response to specific environmental stimuli: the spawning instinct in salmon; altruistic instincts in social animals.

  2. A powerful motivation or impulse.

  3. An innate capability or aptitude: an instinct for tact and diplomacy.

adj.   (ĭn-stĭngkt')

  1. Deeply filled or imbued: words instinct with love.

  2. Obsolete Impelled from within.


[Middle English, from Latin īnstīnctus, impulse, from past participle of īnstinguere, to incite : in-, intensive pref.; see in-2 + stinguere, to prick; see steig- in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Cultural Dictionary

instinct

Behavior that is not learned but passed between generations by heredity.

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

instinct 
1412, "a prompting," from L. instinctus "instigation, impulse," pp. of instinguere "to incite, impel," from in- "on" + stinguere "prick, goad" (see instigation). Sense of "innate tendency" is first recorded 1568, from notion of "natural prompting."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: in·stinct
Pronunciation: 'in-"sti[ng](k)t
Function: noun
1 : a largely inheritable and unalterable tendency of an organism to makea complex and specific response to environmental stimuli without involving reason
2 : behavior that is mediated by reactions below the conscious level
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

instinct in·stinct (ĭn'stĭngkt')
n.

  1. An inborn pattern of behavior that is characteristic of a species and is often a response to specific environmental stimuli.

  2. A powerful motivation or impulse.

in·stinc'tive or in·stinc'tu·al (ĭn-stĭngk'ch&oomacr;-əl) 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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