habit

Universal Words noun 1 [C] a thing that you do often and almost without thinking, especially sth that is hard to stop doing: You need to change your eating habits. * good / bad habits * He has the irritating habit of biting his nails. * It's all right to borrow money occasionally, but don't let it become a habit. * I'd prefer you not to make a habit of it. * I'm not in the habit of letting strangers into my apartment. * I've got into the habit of turning on the TV as soon as I get home. * I'm trying to break the habit of staying up too late. * These things have a habit of coming back to haunt you. 2 [U] usual behaviour: I only do it out of habit. * I'm a creature of habit (= I have a fixed and regular way of doing things). 3 [C] (informal) a strong need to keep using drugs, alcohol or cigarettes regularly: He began to finance his habit through burglary. * She's tried to give up smoking but just can't kick the habit. * a 50-a-day habit 4 [C] a long piece of clothing worn by a MONK or NUN IDIOMS see FORCEn.