inhibit

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To slow down or hold back a process or action.

   Cold weather can inhibit the growth of these plants.

2. 2
   verb

   To make someone feel too shy or nervous to act freely.

   The presence of the cameras seemed to inhibit the students.

From Latin inhibitus, perfect passive participle of inhibeō (“to hold in, check, restrain”), from in (“in, at, on”), + habeō (“to have, hold, keep”).

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