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behaviour
(redirected from was on best behavior)

   Also found in: Medical, Legal, Encyclopedia 0.01 sec.
be·hav·iour  (b-hvyr)
n. Chiefly British
Variant of behavior.

behaviour US, behavior [bɪˈheɪvjə]
n
1. manner of behaving or conducting oneself
on one's best behaviour behaving with careful good manners
3. (Psychology) Psychol
a.  the aggregate of all the responses made by an organism in any situation
b.  a specific response of a certain organism to a specific stimulus or group of stimuli
4. the action, reaction, or functioning of a system, under normal or specified circumstances
[from behave; influenced in form by Middle English havior, from Old French havoir, from Latin habēre to have]
behavioural  US, behavioral adj
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.behaviour - the action or reaction of something (as a machine or substance) under specified circumstances; "the behavior of small particles can be studied in experiments"
activeness, activity, action - the state of being active; "his sphere of activity"; "he is out of action"
2.behaviour - (behavioral attributes) the way a person behaves toward other people
trait - a distinguishing feature of your personal nature
manners - social deportment; "he has the manners of a pig"
citizenship - conduct as a citizen; "award for good citizenship"
swashbuckling - flamboyantly reckless and boastful behavior
correctitude, properness, propriety - correct or appropriate behavior
improperness, impropriety - an improper demeanor
personal manner, manner - a way of acting or behaving
3.behaviour - (psychology) the aggregate of the responses or reactions or movements made by an organism in any situation
activity - any specific behavior; "they avoided all recreational activity"
territoriality - the behavior of a male animal that defines and defends its territory
psychological science, psychology - the science of mental life
4.behaviour - manner of acting or controlling yourselfbehaviour - manner of acting or controlling yourself
activity - any specific behavior; "they avoided all recreational activity"
aggression - deliberately unfriendly behavior
bohemianism - conduct characteristic of a bohemian
dirty pool - conduct that is unfair or unethical or unsportsmanlike
dirty tricks - underhand commercial or political behavior designed to discredit an opponent
offense, offensive activity, discourtesy, offence - a lack of politeness; a failure to show regard for others; wounding the feelings or others
easiness - the quality of being easy in behavior or style; "there was an easiness between them"; "a natural easiness of manner"
the way of the world, the ways of the world - the manner in which people typically behave or things typically happen; "the ordinary reader is endowed with considerable wisdom and knowledge of the way of the world"; "she was well-versed in the ways of the world before she had taken the veil"; "he was amazingly innocent of the ways of the world"

behaviour
noun
1. conduct, ways, actions, bearing, attitude, manner, manners, carriage, demeanour, deportment, mien (literary), comportment He was asked to explain his extraordinary behaviour.
2. action, working, running, performance, operation, practice, conduct, functioning This process modifies the cell's behaviour.
Quotations
"Perfect behaviour is born of complete indifference" [Cesare Pavese This Business of Living]
Translations
behaviour behavior (US) [bɪˈheɪvjəʳ]
A. N
1. [of person] → conducta f, comportamiento m
good behaviourbuena conducta f
to be on one's best behaviourcomportarse lo mejor posible
you must be on your best behaviourtienes que portarte lo mejor posible
2. (Mech etc) → funcionamiento m
B. CPD behaviour pattern Npatrón m de conducta

behaviour [bɪˈheɪvjər] (British) behavior (US) n
(= conduct) [person] → comportement m, conduite f
to be on one's best behaviour → très bien se tenir
(= actions) [people, animals] → comportement m; [organizations, organisms, machines] → comportement m

behaviour, (US) behavior
n
(= manner, bearing)Benehmen nt; (esp of children also) → Betragen nt; to be on one’s best behavioursich von seiner besten Seite zeigen, sein bestes Benehmen an den Tag legen
(towards others) → Verhalten nt(to(wards) gegenüber)
(of car, machine)Verhalten nt

behaviour behavior (Am) [bɪˈheɪvjəʳ] ncomportamento
to be on one's best behaviour → sforzarsi di comportarsi bene

behaviour سلوك chování opførsel Benehmen συμπεριφορά conducta käyttäytyminen comportement ponašanje comportamento 態度 행동 gedrag oppførsel zachowanie comportamento поведение uppförande พฤติกรรม davranış cách cư xử 行为


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