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operant

 - 5 dictionary results

op⋅er⋅ant

  [op-er-uhnt]
Use operant in a Sentence
–adjective
1. operating; producing effects.
–noun
2. a person or thing that operates.
Origin:
1595–1605; < LL operant- (s. of operāns, prp. of operārī; see operate ); see -ant
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To operant
op·er·ant   (ŏp'ər-ənt)   
adj.  

  1. Operating to produce effects; effective.

  2. Psychology Of, relating to, or being a response that occurs spontaneously and is identified by its reinforcing or inhibiting effects.

n.  

  1. One that operates.

  2. Psychology An element of operant behavior.


[Latin operāns, operant-, present participle of operārī, to work; see operate.]
op'er·ant·ly adv.
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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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: 1op·er·ant
Pronunciation: 'äp-&-r&nt
Function: adjective
: of, relating to, or being an operant or operantconditioning <operant behavior> —compare RESPONDENT —op·er·ant·ly adverb

Main Entry: 2operant
Function: noun
: behavior (as bar pressing by a rat to obtain food) that operates on the environment to produce rewarding and reinforcingeffects
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

operant op·er·ant (ŏp'ər-ənt)
adj.

  1. Operating to produce effects; effective.

  2. Of, relating to, or being a response that occurs spontaneously and is identified by its reinforcing or inhibiting effects.

n.
In operant conditioning, a behavior or specific response chosen by the experimenter or therapist. Also called target response.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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