English Dictionary |
FIXATE
Pronunciation (US): | (GB): |
IPA (US): |
Dictionary entry overview: What does fixate mean?
• FIXATE (verb)
The verb FIXATE has 4 senses:
1. attach (oneself) to a person or thing in a neurotic way
2. pay attention to exclusively and obsessively
3. make fixed, stable or stationary
Familiarity information: FIXATE used as a verb is uncommon.
Dictionary entry details
Conjugation: |
Past simple: fixated
Past participle: fixated
-ing form: fixating
Sense 1
Meaning:
Attach (oneself) to a person or thing in a neurotic way
Classified under:
Verbs of political and social activities and events
Context example:
He fixates on his mother, even at the age of 40
Hypernyms (to "fixate" is one way to...):
attach; bind; bond; tie (create social or emotional ties)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s PP
Derivation:
fixation (an unhealthy and compulsive preoccupation with something or someone)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Pay attention to exclusively and obsessively
Classified under:
Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling
Context example:
The media are fixating on Princess Diana's death
Hypernyms (to "fixate" is one way to...):
advert; attend; give ear; hang; pay heed (give heed (to))
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s PP
Derivation:
fixation (an unhealthy and compulsive preoccupation with something or someone)
Sense 3
Meaning:
Make fixed, stable or stationary
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Synonyms:
fix; fixate
Context example:
let's fix the picture to the frame
Hypernyms (to "fixate" is one way to...):
attach (cause to be attached)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Derivation:
fixation ((histology) the preservation and hardening of a tissue sample to retain as nearly as possible the same relations they had in the living body)
fixation (the activity of fastening something firmly in position)
Sense 4
Meaning:
Become fixed (on)
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Synonyms:
fixate; settle on
Context example:
Her eyes fixated on a point on the horizon
Hypernyms (to "fixate" is one way to...):
freeze; stop dead (stop moving or become immobilized)
Sentence frames:
Something ----s
Something is ----ing PP
Context examples
A surgical procedure in which an undescended testis is fixated inside the scrotum.
(Orchiopexy, NCI Thesaurus)
The researchers found that lovebirds navigate by stabilizing and fixating their gaze on the goal, while yawing their bodies into a crosswind.
(Scientists discover how birds navigate crosswinds, National Science Foundation)
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