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单词 instinct
释义

instinct

noun /ˈɪnstɪŋ(k)t /
1An innate, typically fixed pattern of behaviour in animals in response to certain stimuli: the homing instinct...
  • This is a sociable little animal with strong maternal instincts.
  • Valentin aims to balance the cubs' need for care and attention with the wild instincts the growing animals need for survival.
  • This instinct caused animals to form close-knit, evenly spaced groups, as seen in real mammal herds and fish schools.
1.1A natural or intuitive way of acting or thinking: they retain their old authoritarian instincts...
  • Beware of intuition and gut instincts, they are completely unreliable.
  • She sees a younger version of herself in Rose, especially the way she relies on her instincts and intuition.
  • We should listen to our own instincts, our own intuitions and our own bodies.

Synonyms

natural tendency, inborn tendency, inherent tendency, inclination, inner prompting, urge, drive, compulsion, need;
intuition, natural feeling, sixth sense, second sight, insight, nose
1.2A natural propensity or skill of a specified kind: his instinct for making the most of his chances...
  • The natural instinct for self enhancement of professional status has led most practitioners to subscribe to organisations overtly raising standards.
  • ‘You've certainly not got a natural instinct for this,’ he says in his blunt way.
  • He has a natural instinct for framing an argument.

Synonyms

talent, gift, ability, capacity, facility, faculty, aptitude, skill, flair, feel, genius, knack, bent
1.3 [mass noun] The fact or quality of possessing innate behaviour patterns: instinct told her not to ask the question...
  • In fact, instinct usually lets you know whether a child is essentially happy with a care arrangement or whether that morning misery will last the rest of the day.
  • It was woman's distinctive moral qualities - feeling and instinct - that were thought to dull her abilities to practice science.
  • In other words, we possess culture in addition to instinct.
adjective /ɪnˈstɪŋ(k)t / (instinct with) formal
Imbued or filled with (a quality, especially a desirable one): these canvases are instinct with passion...
  • How oft, instinct with warmth divine, thy threshold have I trod!

Origin

Late Middle English (also in the sense 'instigation, impulse'): from Latin instinctus 'impulse', from the verb instinguere, from in- 'towards' + stinguere 'to prick'.

  • The word instinct is from Latin instinctus ‘impulse’, from the verb instinguere: the base is Latin stinguere ‘to prick’ which gives a core notion of ‘urge’.

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更新时间:2024/12/23 10:38:29