( BrE ) ( NAmE be·hav·ior ) / bɪˈheɪvjə(r); NAmE / noun
1.
[ U ] the way that sb behaves, especially towards other people :
good / bad behaviour
social / sexual / criminal behaviour
His behaviour towards her was becoming more and more aggressive.
2.
[ U , C ] the way a person, an animal, a plant, a chemical, etc. behaves or functions in a particular situation :
the behaviour of dolphins / chromosomes
studying human and animal behaviour
( technical )
to study learned behaviours
► be·hav·iour·al ( BrE ) ( NAmE be·hav·ior·al / -jərəl/) adjective :
children with behavioural difficulties
behavioural science (= the study of human behaviour)
•
IDIOMS
- be on your best behaviour
••
WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from behave , on the pattern of demeanour , and influenced by obsolete haviour from have .