释义 |
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2024in•stinct1 /ˈɪnstɪŋkt/USA pronunciation n. - an inborn pattern of activity: [countable]mating instincts.[uncountable]Wolves hunt in packs by instinct.
- a natural or innate impulse without needing to think or consider: [uncountable]He knew by instinct that he should keep quiet.[countable]She has an instinct to make money.
in•stinc•tu•al /ɪnˈstɪŋktʃuəl/USA pronunciation adj. See -stin-. WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2024in•stinc•tive /ɪnˈstɪnktəv/USA pronunciation adj. - done or felt without thinking or considering:an instinctive feeling of distrust; Babies have an instinctive fear of falling.
done or performed by instinct:instinctive mating patterns.See -stin-. WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2024in•stinct1 (in′stingkt),USA pronunciation n. - an inborn pattern of activity or tendency to action common to a given biological species.
- a natural or innate impulse, inclination, or tendency.
- a natural aptitude or gift:an instinct for making money.
- natural intuitive power.
- Latin instinctus prompting, instigation, enthusiasm, equivalent. to *insting(uere) (in- in-2 + *sting(u)ere presumably, to prick; see distinct) + -tus suffix of verb, verbal action
- late Middle English 1375–1425
- 3.See corresponding entry in Unabridged genius, knack, faculty, talent.
in•stinct2 (in stingkt′),USA pronunciation adj. - filled or infused with some animating principle (usually fol. by with):instinct with life.
- [Obs.]animated by some inner force.
- Latin instinctus excited, roused, inspired, past participle of *insting(u)ere; see instinct1
- 1530–40
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2024in•stinc•tive (in stingk′tiv),USA pronunciation adj. - of, pertaining to, or of the nature of instinct.
- prompted by or resulting from or as if from instinct; natural;
unlearned:an instinctive will to survive. Also, in•stinc•tu•al (in stingk′cho̅o̅ əl).USA pronunciation in•stinc′tive•ly, in•stinc′tu•al•ly, adv. - 2.See corresponding entry in Unabridged spontaneous, intuitive, unpremeditated.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers:: instinctive /ɪnˈstɪŋktɪv/, instinctual adj - of, relating to, or resulting from instinct
- conditioned so as to appear innate: an instinctive movement in driving
inˈstinctively, inˈstinctually adv |