name
Pavlov
name
1
A Russian surname, most famously borne by physiologist Ivan Pavlov.
"Pavlov is best known for his experiments on conditioned reflexes in dogs."
verb
1
(informal, from the surname) To train someone or something to react automatically to a cue, without regard to its actual meaning.
"Years of notification sounds had pavloved him into checking his phone."
How to Use Pavlov
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe name behind "Pavlovian" conditioning — training an automatic response to a signal.
Word Forms
Pavloved past tense, Pavlov'd past tense, Pavlovs plural, Pavlovs singular
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_____ is best known for his experiments on conditioned reflexes in dogs.
Etymology
From the Russian surname Pávlov, itself derived from the given name Pável (Paul).