behavior

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   the action or reaction of something, such as a machine or substance, under specified circumstances

   The behavior of small particles can be studied in experiments.

2. 2
   noun

   Human conduct relative to social norms.

   Teachers will probably be on their best behaviour for your visit – but don't be upset if they don't even notice you; they've got enough going on.

3. 3
   noun

   A state of probation about one's conduct.

   He was on his best behavior when her family visited.

4. 4
   noun

   manner of acting or controlling yourself

5. 5
   noun

   in psychology, the aggregate of the responses or reactions or movements made by an organism in any situation

6. 6
   noun

   the way a person behaves toward other people

7. 7
   noun

   The way or manner a living creature behaves or acts generally.

8. 8
   noun

   An observable response produced by an organism.

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₁ep-der. Proto-Indo-European *h₁epsder. Proto-Indo-European *h₁epider. Proto-Indo-European *h₁pi Proto-Germanic *bider. Proto-Germanic *bi- Proto-West Germanic *bi- Proto-Indo-European *kap-der. Proto-Germanic *habjaną Proto-West Germanic *habbjan Proto-West Germanic *bihabbjan Old English behabban Middle English behaven Proto-Indo-European *gʰeh₁bʰ- Proto-Italic *haβēō Latin habeō Old French avoirbor. Middle English havour Middle English behavoure English behavior From Middle English behavoure, behaver, from behaven (modern behave), morphologically equival…