1
- an innate, typically fixed pattern of behaviour in animals in response to certain stimuli（动物的）天性, 生性; 本能：
bream have strong predatory instincts.
鳊鱼有强烈的捕食他物的天性。
1.1
- a natural or intuitive way of acting or thinking（行为、思想方式）本能：
they retain their old authoritarian instincts.
他们保持着原有的压迫人的本能。
1.2
- a natural propensity or skill of a specified kind天性; 天赋：
his instinct for making the most of his chances.
他充分利用机会的天赋。
1.3
- mass noun the fact or quality of possessing innate behaviour patterns（作为存在的事实或特性）直觉, 本能：
instinct told her not to ask the question.
直觉告诉她别问这个问题。
predic.(instinct with)
- formal imbued or filled with (a quality, especially a desirable one)〈正式〉充满（某种品质, 尤指好品质）的：
these canvases are instinct with passion.
这些油画充满了激情。
派生词
instinctual
adjectiveinstinctually
adverb词源
late Middle English （also in the sense 'instigation, impulse'）： from Latin instinctus 'impulse', from the verb instinguere, from in- 'towards' + stinguere 'to prick'.