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Behavior vs Style - What's the difference?

behavior | style |

As a noun behavior

is (uncountable) human conduct relative to social norms.

As a verb style is

.

As an adjective style is

elegant, stylish.

behavior

English

Alternative forms

* behaviour (everywhere except US) * (l), (l), (l), (l)

Noun

(en-noun)
  • (uncountable) Human conduct relative to social norms.
  • (uncountable) The way a living creature behaves or acts generally.
  • (uncountable, informal) A state of probation about one's conduct.
    • He was on his best behavior when her family visited.
  • (countable) An instance of the way a living creature behaves.
  • (countable, uncountable, biology, psychology) Observable response produced by an organism.
  • (uncountable) The way a device or system operates.

    • Usage notes

    * Adjectives often applied to "behavior": human, animal, physical, chemical, mechanical, electrical, organizational, corporate, social, collective, parental, interpersonal, sexual, criminal, appropriate, inappropriate, correct, incorrect, right, wrong, good, bad, acceptable, unacceptable, poor, ethical, unethical, moral, immoral, responsible, irresponsible, normal, odd, deviant, abnormal, violent, abusive, aggressive, offensive, defensive, rude, stupid, undesirable, verbal, nonverbal, learned, professional, unprofessional, adaptive, compulsive, questionable, assertive, disgusting, self-destructive.

    Related terms

    (the actions of organisms) * behave * behavioral * behavioralism * behavioralist * behaviorism * behaviorist * behavioristic * behavior pattern * behavioral science

    External links

    * * English words prefixed with be-

    style

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A manner of doing or presenting things, especially a fashionable one.
  • * Chesterfield
    • Style is the dress of thoughts.
  • * C. Middleton
    • the usual style of dedications
  • * I. Disraeli
    • It is style alone by which posterity will judge of a great work.
  • * Sir J. Reynolds
    • The ornamental style also possesses its own peculiar merit.
  • flair; grace; fashionable skill
    • As a dancer, he has a lot of style .
  • (botany) The stalk that connects the stigma(s) to the ovary in a pistil of a flower.
  • A traditional or legal term preceding a reference to a person who holds a title or post.
  • A traditional or legal term used to address a person who holds a title or post.
    • the style of Majesty
  • * Burke
    • one style to a gracious benefactor, another to a proud, insulting foe
  • (nonstandard) A stylus.
  • (obsolete) A pen; an author's pen.
    • (Dryden)
  • A sharp-pointed tool used in engraving; a graver.
  • A kind of blunt-pointed surgical instrument.
  • A long, slender, bristle-like process.
    • the anal styles of insects
  • The pin, or gnomon, of a sundial, the shadow of which indicates the hour.
  • (computing) A visual or other modification to text or other elements of a document, such as bold or italic.
    • applying styles to text in a wordprocessor
    Cascading Style Sheets

    Derived terms

    * stylish * stylist * hairstyle * style guide * style manual

    See also

    * substance

    Verb

    (styl)
  • To create or give a style, fashion or image.
  • To call or give a name or title.
  • * 1811 , Jane Austen, Sense and Sensibility , chapter 10
    • Marianne’s preserver, as Margaret, with more elegance than precision, stiled (SIC) Willoughby, called at the cottage early the next morning to make his personal inquiries.

    Anagrams

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