inhibit
[ in-hib-it ]
/ ɪnˈhɪb ɪt /
verb (used with object)
to restrain, hinder, arrest, or check (an action, impulse, etc.).
to prohibit; forbid.
Psychology.
to consciously or unconsciously suppress or restrain (psychologically or sociologically unacceptable behavior).
Chemistry.
to decrease the rate of action of or stop (a chemical reaction).
Origin of inhibit
1425–75; late Middle English
inhibiten < Latin
inhibitus, past participle of
inhibēre to restrain, equivalent to
in-
in-2 +
-hibēre, combining form of
habēre to have, hold
SYNONYMS FOR inhibit
OTHER WORDS FROM inhibit
Words nearby inhibit
Example sentences from the Web for inhibit
British Dictionary definitions for inhibit
inhibit
/ (ɪnˈhɪbɪt) /
verb -its, -iting or -ited (tr)
to restrain or hinder (an impulse, a desire, etc)
to prohibit; forbid
to stop, prevent, or decrease the rate of (a chemical reaction)
electronics
- to prevent the occurrence of (a particular signal) in a circuit
- to prevent the performance of (a particular operation)
Derived forms of inhibit
inhibitable, adjective inhibitive or inhibitory, adjectiveWord Origin for inhibit
C15: from Latin
inhibēre to restrain, from
in- ² +
habēre to have
Medical definitions for inhibit
inhibit
[ ĭn-hĭb′ĭt ]
v.
To hold back; restrain.
To suppress or restrain a behavioral process, an impulse, or a desire consciously or unconsciously.
To prevent or decrease the rate of a chemical reaction.
To decrease, limit, or block the action or function of something in the body, as an enzyme or organ.