Definition of: inhibit

(in·hib′it) v.t.
1. To hold back; restrain, as an impulse.
2. To forbid (a cleric) to perform religious functions.
3. To check or block (one mental or nervous process) by another, nearly simultaneous, opposed process. See synonyms under PROHIBIT. [<L inhibitus, pp. of inhibere check <in- in + habere have, hold]
—in·hib′it·er, in·hib′i·tor noun
—in·hib′it·a·ble adjective
—in·hib′i·tive, in·hib′i·to′ry (-tôr′ē, -tō′rē) adjective