instinct
noun /ˈɪnstɪŋ(k)t 
/
/1An innate, typically fixed pattern of behaviour in animals in response to certain stimuli: the homing instinct...
- This is a sociable little animal with strong maternal instincts.
- Valentin aims to balance the cubs' need for care and attention with the wild instincts the growing animals need for survival.
- This instinct caused animals to form close-knit, evenly spaced groups, as seen in real mammal herds and fish schools.
1.1A natural or intuitive way of acting or thinking: they retain their old authoritarian instincts...
- Beware of intuition and gut instincts, they are completely unreliable.
- She sees a younger version of herself in Rose, especially the way she relies on her instincts and intuition.
- We should listen to our own instincts, our own intuitions and our own bodies.
Synonyms
natural tendency, inborn tendency, inherent tendency, inclination, inner prompting, urge, drive, compulsion, need;
intuition, natural feeling, sixth sense, second sight, insight, nose
1.2A natural propensity or skill of a specified kind: his instinct for making the most of his chances...
- The natural instinct for self enhancement of professional status has led most practitioners to subscribe to organisations overtly raising standards.
- ‘You've certainly not got a natural instinct for this,’ he says in his blunt way.
- He has a natural instinct for framing an argument.
Synonyms
talent, gift, ability, capacity, facility, faculty, aptitude, skill, flair, feel, genius, knack, bent
1.3 [mass noun] The fact or quality of possessing innate behaviour patterns: instinct told her not to ask the question...
- In fact, instinct usually lets you know whether a child is essentially happy with a care arrangement or whether that morning misery will last the rest of the day.
- It was woman's distinctive moral qualities - feeling and instinct - that were thought to dull her abilities to practice science.
- In other words, we possess culture in addition to instinct.
adjective /ɪnˈstɪŋ(k)t / (instinct with) formal
/ (instinct with) formalImbued or filled with (a quality, especially a desirable one): these canvases are instinct with passion...
- How oft, instinct with warmth divine, thy threshold have I trod!
Origin
Late Middle English (also in the sense 'instigation, impulse'): from Latin instinctus 'impulse', from the verb instinguere, from in- 'towards' + stinguere 'to prick'.
The word instinct is from Latin instinctus ‘impulse’, from the verb instinguere: the base is Latin stinguere ‘to prick’ which gives a core notion of ‘urge’.