(~s)
1.
Instinct is the natural tendency that a person or animal has to behave or react in a particular way.
I didn’t have as strong a maternal ~ as some other mothers...
He always knew what time it was, as if by ~.
N-VAR
2.
If you have an ~ for something, you are naturally good at it or able to do it.
Farmers are increasingly losing touch with their ~ for managing the land...
= aptitude
N-COUNT: oft N for n/-ing, N to-inf
3.
If it is your ~ to do something, you feel that it is right to do it.
I should’ve gone with my first ~, which was not to do the interview...
N-VAR: usu with poss, oft N to-inf
4.
Instinct is a feeling that you have that something is the case, rather than an opinion or idea based on facts.
He seems so honest and genuine and my every ~ says he’s not.
= intuition
N-VAR: oft N that