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Behavior

//bɪˈheɪ.vjə(ɹ)// noun, slang

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    Human conduct relative to social norms. US, uncountable, usually

    "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."

  2. 2
    manner of acting or controlling yourself wordnet
  3. 3
    The way or manner a living creature behaves or acts generally. US, countable, uncountable, usually
  4. 4
    (psychology) the aggregate of the responses or reactions or movements made by an organism in any situation wordnet
  5. 5
    A state of probation about one's conduct. US, informal, uncountable, usually

    "He was on his best behavior when her family visited."

Show 4 more definitions
  1. 6
    (behavioral attributes) the way a person behaves toward other people wordnet
  2. 7
    An observable response produced by an organism. US, countable, uncountable, usually
  3. 8
    the action or reaction of something (as a machine or substance) under specified circumstances wordnet
  4. 9
    The way a device or system operates. US, uncountable, usually

Etymology

From Middle English behavoure, behaver, from behaven (modern behave), with the ending apparently in imitation of havour (see 'havior), a corruption of Old French aveir and/or avoir (“a having”), ultimately from Latin habēre. Compare Scots havings (“behavior”), from have (“to behave”). Replaced Old English ġebǣru.

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