be·hav·ior (US) or Brit be·hav·iour 
/bɪˈheɪvjɚ/ noun
plural be·hav·iors /bɪˈheɪvjɚ/ noun 1 : the way a person or animal acts or behaves [noncount] ▪ I'm surprised by her bad behavior toward her friends. ▪ Students will be rewarded for good behavior. ▪ scientists studying the behavior of elephants ▪ normal adolescent behavior ▪ criminal behavior ▪ an interesting pattern of behavior = an interesting behavior pattern ▪ The children were all on their best behavior [=were all behaving very well and politely] at the museum. ▪ Inmates may be released from prison early for good behavior. [=because they have followed prison rules and have not caused problems] [count] ▪ An acceptable social behavior in one country may be unacceptable in another country. ▪ Doctors are trying to educate people about behaviors that can put them at increased risk for skin cancer. 2 [noncount] : the way something (such as a machine or substance) moves, functions, or reacts
▪ The experiment tested the behavior of various metals under heat and pressure.
▪ The experiment tested the behavior of various metals under heat and pressure.
— be·hav·ior·al (US) or Brit be·hav·iour·al /bɪˈheɪvjərəl/ adjective
▪ behavioral problems ▪ behavioral patterns
/bɪˈheɪvjərəl/ adjective ▪ behavioral problems ▪ behavioral patterns
