/im prin"ting/ , n. Animal Behav., Psychol.
rapid learning that occurs during a brief receptive period, typically soon after birth or hatching, and establishes a long-lasting behavioral response to a specific individual or object, as attachment to parent, offspring, or site.
[ 1937; IMPRINT + -ING 1 , trans. of G Prägung, K. Lorenz's term ]