Definitions

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun (Ethology, Psychology) The learning of a behavioral pattern that occurs soon after birth or hatching in certain animals, in which a long-lasting response to an individual (such as a parent) or an object is rapidly acquired; it is particularly noted in the response of certain birds to the animal they first see after hatching, usually the parent, as in ducks who will follow the adult duck they first see.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun psychology, ethology Any kind of phase-sensitive learning (learning occurring at a particular age or a particular life stage) that is rapid and apparently independent of the consequences of behavior.
  • verb Present participle of imprint.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a learning process in early life whereby species specific patterns of behavior are established

Etymologies

Sorry, no etymologies found.

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word imprinting.

Examples

  • I think the whole ick factor with the imprinting is that although nothing is going on now, Jacob is still thinking long term and looking at Reneesme as his future wife.

    Twilight Lexicon » Full Press Release: Stephenie Meyer Named as Producer 2010

  • Our culture, its social imprinting, is so strong as to be almost indelible.

    Sonny Brewer - An interview with author 2010

  • Speaking of Neons, Chrysler has succeeding in imprinting that "Born to be Alive" song into my brain, but why are they pretending the "Dodge SX 2.0" is something other than a Neon with a different grille?

    Daimnation!: I want one of these 2002

  • About a third is the labor and the fulfillment we call imprinting here and the overhead, and then about a third is the delivery of a piece of it.

    unknown title 2009

  • They suspected that the explanation may lie partly in a phenomenon called "imprinting" - differing activity of genes due to chemical modifications depending on whether they are inherited from the mother or the father.

    New Scientist - Online News 2009

  • They suspected that the explanation may lie partly in a phenomenon called "imprinting" - differing activity of genes due to chemical modifications depending on whether they are inherited from the mother or the father.

    New Scientist - Online News 2009

  • They suspected that the explanation may lie partly in a phenomenon called "imprinting" - differing activity of genes due to chemical modifications depending on whether they are inherited from the mother or the father.

    New Scientist - Online News 2009

  • Clive and Elsa are massively proud of the new male and female they have in their tank, whom they are now encouraging to perform a mating ritual-dance known as imprinting and whom they whimsically name Fred and Ginger.

    Splice 2010

  • Taj, now, he might call it imprinting, that something.

    Ancient, Strange, and Lovely Susan Fletcher 2010

  • "Imprinting IS sexual no matter what aka imprinting is sexist and pedophilic"

    seanan_mcguire: Thoughts on Writing #28: For the Critics. seanan_mcguire 2009

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.