instinct

/in'stiɳkt/
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Thân thiện
instinct

The mother bird's instinct is to protect her nest.

Definition

  1. Noun:

    • An inborn pattern of behavior: A natural, typically fixed, way of behaving that is present from birth in animals and people, often in response to specific stimuli or situations.
    • A natural aptitude or impulse: A powerful, often unconscious, motivation or inclination.

  2. Adjective (archaic or formal):

    • Filled or imbued with a quality: Deeply permeated or charged with a particular feeling, spirit, or principle.
Usage Examples

  • Noun:

    • The mother bird's instinct is to protect her chicks.
    • He has a natural instinct for business.
    • She followed her instincts and turned left.

  • Adjective:

    • The poem is instinct with a sense of melancholy.
    • His speech was instinct with revolutionary fervor.
Advanced Usage

  • "By instinct": Automatically, without conscious thought, as a result of natural impulse.

    • The baby knew by instinct how to suckle.

  • "Act on instinct": To behave based on a natural feeling or impulse rather than on reason.

    • When she saw the child fall, she acted on instinct and ran to help.
Variants and Related Words

  • Instinctive (adj): Relating to or prompted by instinct; done without conscious thought.

    • Her instinctive reaction was to duck.

  • Instinctual (adj): Another term for instinctive, often used in psychology and biology.

    • The instinctual drive for survival.
Synonyms
  • Noun: Impulse, intuition, drive, inclination, propensity, aptitude.
  • Adjective: Imbued, permeated, filled, charged, infused.
Related Phrases

  • Gut instinct: An intuitive feeling or reaction based on an immediate, emotional response rather than logic.

    • My gut instinct tells me this is a bad deal.

  • Killer instinct: A ruthless determination to succeed or win.

    • The champion boxer is known for his killer instinct in the ring.
instinct

The mother bird's instinct is to protect her nest.

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
Noun
  1. inborn pattern of behavior often responsive to specific stimuli
    • the spawning instinct in salmon
    • altruistic instincts in social animals

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