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acquired trait

[/əˈkwaɪərd treɪt/]
nounpl: acquired traits
característica adquirida
1. A characteristic or trait that an organism develops during its lifetime through environmental influence, use, disuse, or habit, rather than being inherited genetically
The ability to speak a language is an acquired trait, not an innate ability.
A capacidade de falar um idioma é uma característica adquirida, não uma habilidade inata.
2. In biology, a trait that cannot be passed on to offspring because it is not encoded in the organism's DNA
A bodybuilder's muscles are an acquired trait that cannot be genetically inherited by their children.
Os músculos de um culturista são uma característica adquirida que não pode ser geneticamente herdada por seus filhos.
Synonyms
acquired characteristicphenotypic traitenvironmental trait
Antonyms
inherited traitinnate traitgenetic traitcongenital trait

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
característica adquirida
standard usage in Brazilian biology and science contexts
Portugal
característica adquirida
standard usage in European Portuguese scientific literature
São Paulo
traço adquirido
alternative form sometimes used in academic contexts

Related Idioms & Phrases

nature versus nurture
environmental influence
learned behavior
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