Pav·lov, I·van Pet·ro·vich /ˈpævlɒv $ -lɑːv//ˈaɪv ə n ˈpetrəvɪtʃ/ BrE AmE
(1849–1936) a Russian scientist who won the Nobel Prize for Medicine for his work on the DIGESTIVE SYSTEM . He is famous especially for his work with dogs, which proved the existence of the CONDITIONED REFLEX (=a physical reaction that you cannot control, caused by repeated training or experiences). Each time he fed his dogs he rang a bell before giving them their food. The dogs learned to connect the ringing of the bell with the arrival of the food, and they got excited and began to ↑ salivate when they heard the bell, even if there was no food.
—Pavlovian /pævˈləʊviən $ -ˈloʊ-/ adjective