Instinct



GRE 蓝宝 TOEFL 考研

解释

GRE 红宝书

• n. 本能
• ［英］ n. 本能 ( natural inborn tendency)
• ［类］ 反义词: learned response ( 学到的反应)
• ［记］ in ( 内) +stinct ( 刺, 刺激) -> 内在的刺激

Webster Collegiate

I. noun

• Etymology: Middle English, from Latin instinctus impulse, from instinguere to incite; akin to Latin instigare to instigate
• Date: 15th century
• 1. a natural or inherent aptitude, impulse, or capacity <had an instinct for the right word>
• 2.
  • a. a largely inheritable and unalterable tendency of an organism to make a complex and specific response to environmental stimuli without involving reason
  • b. behavior that is mediated by reactions below the conscious level
• ? instinctual adjective
• ? instinctually adverb

II. adjective

• Date: 1667
• 1. obsolete impelled by an inner or animating or exciting agency
• 2. profoundly imbued ; infused <my mood, instinct with romance — S. J. Perelman>

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