1 [with adverbial] act or conduct oneself in a specified way, especially towards others:he always behaved like a gentlemanit is not acceptable for a student to behave like that towards a teacher
(of a machine or natural phenomenon) work or function in a specified way:each car behaves differently
2 [often in imperative] (also behave oneself) conduct oneself in accordance with the accepted norms of a society or group:‘Just behave, Tom,’ he saidthey were expected to behave themselves
