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Imprinting: meaning, definitions and examples

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imprinting

 

[ ษชmหˆprษชntษชล‹ ]

Noun / Verb
Context #1 | Noun

psychological phenomenon

Imprinting is a rapid and apparently irreversible learning process that occurs during a specific time period in an animal's early development. It often refers to the way young animals form attachments to their caregivers or environments.

Synonyms

attachment, bonding

Examples of usage

  • The ducklings showed imprinting on their mother immediately after hatching.
  • Imprinting can significantly influence animal behavior later in life.
  • Some researchers study imprinting to understand attachment in humans.
Context #2 | Verb

marking or influencing

To imprint means to mark or influence something in a way that it leaves a lasting effect. This can refer to physical imprints, like those left by a tool, or metaphorical ones, such as experiences that shape a person's character.

Synonyms

engrave, inscribe, mark

Examples of usage

  • He hoped to imprint his values on his children.
  • The pressure of the stamp will imprint a design onto the paper.
  • Her experiences in childhood imprinted her understanding of trust.

Translations

Translations of the word "imprinting" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น imprinting

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เค‡เค‚เคชเฅเคฐเคฟเค‚เคŸเคฟเค‚เค—

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Prรคgung

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ pengecapan

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ั–ะผะฟั€ั–ะฝั‚ะธะฝะณ

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ odcisk

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ใ‚คใƒณใƒ—ใƒชใƒณใƒ†ใ‚ฃใƒณใ‚ฐ

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท impression

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ impronta

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท iz bฤฑrakma

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ๊ฐ์ธ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุทุจุงุนุฉ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ otisk

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ otlaฤok

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๅฐ่ฎฐ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ odtis

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ prentun

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ั–ะทะฑะตะปะณั–ะปะตัƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒ‘แƒ”แƒญแƒ“แƒ•แƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ iz qoyma

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ impresiรณn

Etymology

The word 'imprint' comes from the Latin 'imprimere', which means 'to press into' or 'to stamp'. This origin reflects the physical aspect of imprinting, where a mark or impression is left on a surface. The use of 'imprinting' in psychology was popularized in the 20th century, especially in the context of animal behavior, thanks to researchers like Konrad Lorenz, who studied the behavior of greylag goose goslings. Lorenz found that, during a sensitive period shortly after hatching, these goslings would follow the first moving object they encountered, typically their mother, and this attachment was not easily changed thereafter. As the concept expanded, imprinting began to be used metaphorically in various fields, including psychology and education, to describe how early experiences shape and influence behavior and belief systems in later life.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #24,629, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.