habit: Meaning and Definition of

hab•it

Pronunciation: (hab'it), [key]
— n.
  1. an acquired behavior pattern regularly followed until it has become almost involuntary: the habit of looking both ways before crossing the street.
  2. customary practice or use: Daily bathing is an American habit.
  3. a particular practice, custom, or usage: the habit of shaking hands.
  4. a dominant or regular disposition or tendency; prevailing character or quality: She has a habit of looking at the bright side of things.
  5. addiction, esp. to narcotics (often prec. by the).
  6. mental character or disposition: a habit of mind.
  7. characteristic bodily or physical condition.
  8. the characteristic form, aspect, mode of growth, etc., of an organism: a twining habit.
  9. the characteristic crystalline form of a mineral.
  10. garb of a particular rank, profession, religious order, etc.: a monk's habit.
  11. the attire worn by a rider of a saddle horse.
—v.t.
  1. to clothe; array.

hab•it

Pronunciation: (hab'it), [key]
— v.t.
  1. to dwell in.
—v.i.
  1. to dwell.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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