the aggregate of responses to internal and external stimuli.
a stereotyped, species-specific activity, as a courtship dance or startle reflex.
Often behaviors.a behavior pattern.
the action or reaction of any material under given circumstances: the behavior of tin under heat.
Also especially British, be·hav·iour.
Origin of behavior
1375–1425;behave + -ior (on model of havior, variant of havor < Middle French (h)avoir ≪ Latinhabēre to have); replacing late Middle Englishbehavoure, behaver. See behave, -or1
Related formsbe·hav·ior·al, adjectivebe·hav·ior·al·ly, adverbin·ter·be·hav·ior, nounin·ter·be·hav·ior·al, adjectivein·ter·be·hav·ior·al·ly, adverb
1. Behavior,conduct,deportment,comportment refer to one's actions before or toward others, especially on a particular occasion. Behavior refers to actions usually measured by commonly accepted standards: His behavior at the party was childish.Conduct refers to actions viewed collectively, especially as measured by an ideal standard: Conduct is judged according to principles of ethics.Deportment is behavior related to a code or to an arbitrary standard: Deportment is guided by rules of etiquette. The teacher gave Susan a mark of B in deportment.Comportment is behavior as viewed from the standpoint of one's management of one's own actions: His comportment was marked by a quiet assurance.
late 15c., essentially from behave, but with ending from Middle English havour "possession," a word altered (by influence of have) from aver, noun use of Old French verb aveir "to have."
