1 [with adverbial] act or conduct oneself in a specified way, especially toward others:he always behaved like a gentlemanyou should behave affectionately toward the patient
(of a machine or natural phenomenon) work or function in a specified way:each car behaves differently
2 [often in imperative] conduct oneself in accordance with the accepted norms of a society or group:you can go as long as you behave (behave oneself)they were expected to behave themselves
Origin:
late Middle English: from be- + have in the sense 'have or bear (oneself) in a particular way' (corresponding to modern German sich behaben)
