behavior

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. The manner in which one behaves.
2. n. The actions or reactions of a person or animal in response to external or internal stimuli.
3. n. 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).
4. n. The manner in which something functions or operates: the faulty behavior of a computer program; the behavior of dying stars.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. Manner of behaving, whether good or bad; conduct; mode of acting; manners; deportment: sometimes, when used absolutely, implying good breeding or proper deportment.
2. n. Figuratively, the manner in which anything acts or operates.
3. n. The act of representing another person; the manner in which one personates the character of another; representative character.
4. n. In a state of probation; liable to be called to account in case of misconduct.
5. n. Synonyms Carriage, Behavior, Conduct, Deportment, Demeanor, bearing, manner, manners, all denote primarily outward manner or conduct, but naturally are freely extended to internal states or activities. Carriage, the way of carrying one's self, may be mere physical attitude, or it may be personal manners, as expressing states of mind: we speak of a haughty or noble carriage, but not ordinarily of an ignoble, cringing, or base carriage. Behavior is the most general expression of one's mode of acting; it also refers particularly to comparatively conspicuous actions and conduct. Conduct is more applicable to actions viewed as connected into a course of life, especially to actions considered with reference to morality. Deportment is especially behavior in the line of the proprieties or duties of life: as, Mr. Turveydrop was a model of deportment; the scholars' rank depends partly upon their deportment. Demeanor is most used for manners as expressing character; it is a more delicate word than the others, and is generally used in a good sense. We may speak of lofty or gracious carriage; good, bad, wise, foolish, modest, conceited behavior; exemplary conduct; grand, modest, correct deportment; quiet, refined demeanor.

Wiktionary

1. n. Alternative form of behaviour.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. Manner of behaving, whether good or bad; mode of conducting one's self; conduct; deportment; carriage; -- used also of inanimate objects.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. (behavioral attributes) the way a person behaves toward other people
2. n. manner of acting or controlling yourself
3. n. (psychology) the aggregate of the responses or reactions or movements made by an organism in any situation
4. n. the action or reaction of something (as a machine or substance) under specified circumstances