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

4. become fixed (on)

  Familiarity information: FIXATE used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• FIXATE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they fixate    ... he / she / it fixates   
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)