Instinct

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈɪn.stɪŋkt/

Origin

From Latin instinctus, past participle of instinguere ("to incite, to instigate"), from in ("in, on") + stinguere ("to prick")

Full definition of instinct

Noun

1. A natural or inherent impulse or behaviour.Many animals fear fire by instinct.
• ShakespeareBy a divine instinct, men's minds mistrust
  Ensuing dangers.
• 1921, Bertrand Russell, S:The Analysis of Mind/Lecture II, In spite of these qualifications, the broad distinction between instinct and habit is undeniable. To take extreme cases, every animal at birth can take food by instinct, before it has had opportunity to learn; on the other hand, no one can ride a bicycle by instinct, though, after learning, the necessary movements become just as automatic as if they were instinctive.
2. An intuitive reaction not based on rational conscious thought.an instinct for order; to be modest by instinctDebbie's instinct was to distrust John.

Derived terms

• instinctively
• instinctive

Adjective

1. (archaic) Imbued, charged (with something).
• MiltonThe chariot of paternal deity ...
  Itself instinct with spirit, but convoyed
  By four cherubic shapes.
• Broughama noble performance, instinct with sound principle
• 1928, HP Lovecraft, ‘The Call of Cthulhu’:This thing, which seemed instinct with a fearsome and unnatural malignancy, was of a somewhat bloated corpulence, and squatted evilly on a rectangular block or pedestal covered with undecipherable characters.