imprinting

American  

[im-prin-ting] / ɪmˈprɪn tɪŋ /

noun

Animal Behavior, Psychology.

1. rapid learning that occurs during a brief receptive period, typically soon after birth or hatching, and establishes a long-lasting behavioral response to a specific individual or object, as attachment to parent, offspring, or site.

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imprinting British  

/ ɪmˈprɪntɪŋ /

noun

1. the development through exceptionally fast learning in young animals of recognition of and attraction to members of their own species or to surrogates

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imprinting Scientific  

/ ĭm′prĭn′tĭng /

1. A rapid learning process by which a newborn or very young animal establishes a behavior pattern of recognition and attraction towards other animals of its own kind, as well as to specific individuals of its species, such as its parents, or to a substitute for these. Ducklings, for example, will imprint upon and follow the first large moving object they observe. In nature, this is usually their mother, but they can be made to imprint upon other moving objects, such as a soccer ball.

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Etymology

Origin of imprinting

1937; imprint + -ing ¹, translation of German Prägung, K. Lorenz's term

Example Sentences

If there’s another cub in California, the agency may try to pair them up to keep them from imprinting on people, according to the release.

From Los Angeles Times • May 24, 2025

Howe immediately set about imprinting his methods at Newcastle.

From BBC • Mar. 16, 2025

One concern is that imprinting could potentially blunt the immune responses against newer virus strains in people with histories of exposure to prior strains.

From Science Daily • Mar. 14, 2024

Later that evening, Adam Lee is in the plate room imprinting digital files, produced by editors and page designers, onto aluminum sheets.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 10, 2024

Therefore, imprinting in an animal’s mind the artificial connection that if it does a certain action, say, roll over, it will get a treat can be achieved only by mind-numbing repetition.

From "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel