Link Centre Dictionary

instinct

ins·tinct

UK/ˈɪn.stɪŋkt/ US/ˈɪnstɪŋkt/ fairly common
noun (1) adjective (1)

noun

1.

inborn pattern of behavior often responsive to specific stimuli

  • “the spawning instinct in salmon”
  • “altruistic instincts in social animals”
Synonyms

adjective

1.

(followed by `with'')deeply filled or permeated

  • “imbued with the spirit of the Reformation”
  • “words instinct with love”
  • “it is replete with misery”
Synonyms
Similar

Origin

From Latin īnstīnctus, past participle of īnstinguō (“to incite, to instigate”), from in (“in, on”) + stinguō (“to prick”).

Phrases

  • death instinct
  • gut instinct
  • herd instinct
  • herding instinct
  • instinct shooting
  • killer instinct
  • survival instinct

Related words

Word family

Broader terms

Narrower terms

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.