instinct
1
[ in-stingkt ]
/ ˈɪn stɪŋkt /
noun
an inborn pattern of activity or tendency to action common to a given biological species.
a natural or innate impulse, inclination, or tendency.
a natural aptitude or gift: an instinct for making money.
natural intuitive power.
Origin of instinct
1Words nearby instinct
instigation,
instil,
instill,
instillation,
instillator,
instinct,
instinctive,
institute,
instituter,
institutes,
institution
Definition for instinct (2 of 2)
instinct
2
[ in-stingkt ]
/ ɪnˈstɪŋkt /
adjective
filled or infused with some animating principle (usually followed by with): instinct with life.
Obsolete.
animated by some inner force.
Origin of instinct
2
1530–40; < Latin
instinctus excited, roused, inspired, past participle of
*insting(u)ere; see
instinct1
Example sentences from the Web for instinct
British Dictionary definitions for instinct
instinct
noun (ˈɪnstɪŋkt)
the innate capacity of an animal to respond to a given stimulus in a relatively fixed way
inborn intuitive power
a natural and apparently innate aptitude
adjective (ɪnˈstɪŋkt)
rare (postpositive often foll by with)
- animated or impelled (by)
- imbued or infused (with)
Word Origin for instinct
C15: from Latin
instinctus roused, from
instinguere to incite; compare
instigate
Medical definitions for instinct
instinct
[ ĭn′stĭngkt′ ]
n.
An inborn pattern of behavior that is characteristic of a species and is often a response to specific environmental stimuli.
A powerful motivation or impulse.
Other words from instinct
in•stinc′tive null adj.Scientific definitions for instinct
instinct
[ ĭn′stĭngkt′ ]
An inherited tendency of an organism to behave in a certain way, usually in reaction to its environment and for the purpose of fulfilling a specific need. The development and performance of instinctive behavior does not depend upon the specific details of an individual's learning experiences. Instead, instinctive behavior develops in the same way for all individuals of the same species or of the same sex of a species. For example, birds will build the form of nest typical of their species although they may never have seen such a nest being built before. Some butterfly species undertake long migrations to wintering grounds that they have never seen. Behavior in animals often reflects the influence of a combination of instinct and learning. The basic song pattern of many bird species is inherited, but it is often refined by learning from other members of the species. Dogs that naturally seek to gather animals such as sheep or cattle into a group are said to have a herding instinct, but the effective use of this instinct by the dog also requires learning on the dog's part. Instinct, as opposed to reflex, is usually used of inherited behavior patterns that are more complex or sometimes involve a degree of interaction with learning processes.