behavior

== English == === Alternative forms === behaviour (UK) behavoure, behavier, behavor, behavour (all obsolete) === Etymology === From Middle English behavoure, behaver, from behaven (modern behave), with the ending apparently in imitation of havour (see 'havior), a corruption of Old French aveir and/or avoir (“a having”), ultimately from Latin habēre. Compare Scots havings (“behavior”), from have (“to behave”). Replaced Old English ġebǣru. === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /bɪˈheɪ.vjə(ɹ)/ (General American, Canada) IPA(key): /bɪˈheɪ.vjɚ/ (General Australian) IPA(key): /bɪˈhæɪ.vjə(ɹ)/ Rhymes: -eɪvjə(ɹ) (Indic) IPA(key): /bɪˈheːvɪjɚ/ Hyphenation: be‧ha‧vior === Noun === behavior (usually uncountable, plural behaviors) (American spelling) (uncountable) Human conduct relative to social norms. (countable, uncountable) The way or manner a living creature behaves or acts generally. (uncountable, informal) A state of probation about one's conduct. (countable, uncountable, biology, psychology) An observable response produced by an organism. (uncountable) The way a device or system operates. ==== Synonyms ==== ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Related terms ==== ==== Collocations ==== ==== Translations ==== === Further reading === Raymond Williams (1983), “Behavior”, in Keywords: A Vocabulary of Culture and Society, revised American edition, New York, N.Y.: Oxford University Press, published 1985, →ISBN, page 43 “behavior”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC. William Dwight Whitney, Benjamin E[li] Smith, editors (1911), “behavior”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., →OCLC.