1. The manner in which one behaves. 2a. The actions or reactions of a person or animal in response to external or internal stimuli. b. One of these actions or reactions: “a hormone . . . known to directly control sex-specific reproductive and parenting behaviors in a wide variety of vertebrates” (Thomas Maugh II, Los Angeles Times November 13, 1995). 3. The manner in which something functions or operates: the faulty behavior of a computer program; the behavior of dying stars.
ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English behavour, from behaven, to behave (on the model of havour, behavior, from Old French avoir, from avoir, to have). See behave.
OTHER FORMS:
be·havior·al —ADJECTIVE be·havior·al·ly —ADVERB
SYNONYMS:
behavior, conduct, deportment These nouns all pertain to a person's actions as they constitute a means of evaluation by others. Behavior is the most general: The children were on their best behavior.Conduct applies to actions considered from the standpoint of morality and ethics: “Life, not the parson, teaches conduct” (Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.). Deportment more narrowly pertains to actions measured by a prevailing code of social behavior: “[Old Mr. Turveydrop] was not like anything in the world but a model of Deportment” (Charles Dickens).
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