Imprinting

[im-prin-ting] /ɪmˈprɪn tɪŋ/

noun, Animal Behavior, Psychology.
1.
rapid learning that occurs during a brief receptive period, typically soon after birth or hatching, and establishes a long-lasting behavioral response to a specific individual or object, as attachment to parent, offspring, or site.
[noun im-print; verb im-print] /noun ˈɪm prɪnt; verb ɪmˈprɪnt/
noun
1.
a mark made by pressure; a mark or figure impressed or printed on something.
2.
any impression or impressed effect:
He left the imprint of his thought on all succeeding scholars.
3.
Bibliography.

4.
any marketing name used by a company or organization for a product line; brand or label.
5.
the printer’s name and address as indicated on any printed matter.
verb (used with object)
6.
to impress (a quality, character, distinguishing mark, etc.).
7.
to produce (a mark) on something by pressure.
8.
to bestow, as a kiss.
9.
to fix firmly on the mind, memory, etc.
10.
Animal Behavior, Psychology. to acquire or establish by imprinting.
11.
to make an imprint upon.
verb (used without object)
12.
to make an impression; have an effect.
/ɪmˈprɪntɪŋ/
noun
1.
the development through exceptionally fast learning in young animals of recognition of and attraction to members of their own species or to surrogates
noun (ˈɪmprɪnt)
1.
a mark or impression produced by pressure, printing, or stamping
2.
a characteristic mark or indication; stamp: the imprint of great sadness on his face
3.
the publisher’s name and address, usually with the date of publication, in a book, pamphlet, etc
4.
the printer’s name and address on any printed matter
verb (ɪmˈprɪnt)
5.
to produce (a mark, impression, etc) on (a surface) by pressure, printing, or stamping: to imprint a seal on wax, to imprint wax with a seal
6.
to establish firmly; impress; stamp: to imprint the details on one’s mind
7.
(of young animals) to undergo the process of imprinting
v.

late 14c., from Old French empreinter, from empreinte, noun use of fem. past participle of eimpreindre “to impress, imprint,” from Vulgar Latin *impremere, from Latin imprimere “to impress, imprint” (see impress). As a noun from mid-15c.

imprinting im·print·ing (ĭm’prĭn’tĭng)
n.
A learning process occurring early in the life of a social animal in which a specific behavior pattern is established through association with a parent or other role model.
imprinting
(ĭm’prĭn’tĭng)
A rapid learning process by which a newborn or very young animal establishes a behavior pattern of recognition and attraction towards other animals of its own kind, as well as to specific individuals of its species, such as its parents, or to a substitute for these. Ducklings, for example, will imprint upon and follow the first large moving object they observe. In nature, this is usually their mother, but they can be made to imprint upon other moving objects, such as a soccer ball.