/ ˈhæbɪt; NAmE / noun
1.
[ C ] a thing that you do often and almost without thinking, especially sth that is hard to stop doing :
You need to change your eating habits.
good / bad habits
He has the irritating habit of biting his nails.
It's all right to borrow money occasionally, but don't let it become a habit .
I'd prefer you not to make a habit of it.
I'm not in the habit of letting strangers into my apartment.
I've got into the habit of turning on the TV as soon as I get home.
I'm trying to break the habit of staying up too late.
2.
[ U ] usual behaviour :
I only do it out of habit .
I'm a creature of habit (= I have a fixed and regular way of doing things) .
3.
[ C ] ( informal ) a strong need to keep using drugs, alcohol or cigarettes regularly :
He began to finance his habit through burglary.
She's tried to give up smoking but just can't kick the habit .
a 50-a-day habit
4.
[ C ] a long piece of clothing worn by a monk or nun
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IDIOMS
see force noun
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from Old French abit , habit , from Latin habitus condition, appearance, from habere have, consist of. The term originally meant dress, attire , later coming to denote physical or mental constitution.