1. plural of imprinting; instances or processes of making a mark, impression, or lasting effect on something or someone
Usage: commonly used in psychology and biology to describe behavioral learning in animals
2. plural of imprinting; the process by which young animals learn to recognize and follow a parent or caregiver during a critical developmental period
Usage: technical term in ethology and developmental psychology

Examples

• The imprintings of early childhood experiences shape our personalities throughout life.
• Researchers studied the imprintings of ducklings on their mothers during the first hours after hatching.
• The imprintings left by the animal's paws were visible in the soft mud.
• Emotional imprintings from traumatic events can affect behavior years later.
• The imprintings of cultural values are transmitted from generation to generation.
• Scientists observed how the imprintings of social bonds develop in primate groups.