Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Physically fit or in good shape: Describes a state of being physically prepared or trained, often through exercise or training.
   • Established or modified by learning or experience: Refers to a response, behavior, or reflex that has been learned or acquired through association with a specific stimulus, rather than being innate.

Usage and Examples

• Adjective (Physically fit):

  • The athlete was highly conditioned for the marathon.
  • A well-conditioned body can recover from illness more quickly.

• Adjective (Learned response):

  • Pavlov's dogs exhibited a conditioned response by salivating at the sound of a bell.
  • A conditioned fear of loud noises can develop after a traumatic event.

Advanced Usage

• "Conditioned reflex": A specific type of learned, automatic response to a stimulus that was originally neutral.

  • The doctor tested the patient's conditioned reflexes.

• "Air-conditioned": (A compound word listed separately as a variant) Refers to an environment where the air temperature and humidity are controlled.

  • We waited in the air-conditioned lobby.

Variants and Related Words

• Conditioning (n): The process of training or accustoming a person or animal to behave in a certain way or to accept certain circumstances.
  • The conditioning process took several weeks.
• Conditioner (n): A substance or agent used to improve the condition of something (e.g., hair conditioner, fabric conditioner).
• Recondition (v): To condition again; to restore to a good or working condition.
  • They decided to recondition the old engine.

Synonyms

• Trained (for the learned response sense).
• Fit, in shape (for the physical fitness sense).
• Learned, acquired (for the psychological sense).

Antonyms

• Unconditioned (not established by conditioning; innate or natural).
• Unfit, out of shape (for the physical fitness sense).

Related Phrases and Concepts

• Classical conditioning: A learning process where a biologically potent stimulus is paired with a previously neutral stimulus.
• Operant conditioning: A learning process where behavior is modified by its consequences (rewards or punishments).
• Conditioned stimulus: A previously neutral stimulus that, after becoming associated with an unconditioned stimulus, triggers a conditioned response.

Adjective

1. physically fit
   • exercised daily to keep herself in condition
2. established by conditioning or learning
   • a conditioned response