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habituate

habituate [ hə bíchoo ayt ] (3rd person present singular habituates, present participle habituating, past and past participle habituated)

verb

Definition:

1. transitive verb make somebody used to something: to accustom a person or animal to something through prolonged and regular exposure ( formal )

People living in cities become habituated to crowds.

2. transitive and intransitive verb psychology learn to ignore stimulus: to learn not to respond to a stimulus that is frequently repeated, or teach a person or animal to do this

3. intransitive verb become accustomed to drug: to become dependent on or less affected by a medical or illegal drug through frequent use

[16th century. < late Latin habituat-, past participle of habituare 'bring into a state' < Latin habitus (see habit)]

habituation [ hə bíchoo áysh'n ] noun

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