Question 1

What does "imprint on" mean?

Accepted Answer

(Biology) For a young animal to form a strong social bond with the first moving thing it sees after birth.

Question 2

How do you use "imprint on" in a sentence?

Accepted Answer

The gosling imprinted on the researcher and followed her everywhere.

Question 3

Is "imprint on" formal or informal?

Accepted Answer

"imprint on" is register-neutral — appropriate in both casual and formal contexts. Used in two main ways: (1) the biological/psychological sense (baby animals imprinting on the first creature they see), and (2) a more figurative sense of leaving a deep impression. The biological sense is especially associated with Konrad Lorenz's ethology research.

imprint on

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