̈ɪˈhæbɪt n. & v. --n. 1 a settled or
regular tendency or
practice (often foll. by of +
verbal noun:
has a habit of ignoring me). 2 a practice
that is
hard to
give up. 3 a
mental constitution or
attitude. 4 Psychol. an
automatic reaction to a
specific situation. 5 colloq. an
addictive practice,
esp. of
taking drugs. 6 a
the dress of a
particular class, esp. of a
religious order. b (in full riding-habit) a woman's riding-dress. c
archaic dress,
attire. 7 a
bodily constitution. 8 Biol. & Crystallog. a
mode of
growth. --v.tr. (usu. as habited adj.)
clothe. øhabit-forming causing
addiction.
make a habit of do regularly. [ME f. OF abit f. L habitus f. habere habithave, be constituted]