reinforcement

[ree-in-fawrs-muh nt, -fohrs-] /ˌri ɪnˈfɔrs mənt, -ˈfoʊrs-/
noun
1.
the act of reinforcing.
2.
the state of being reinforced.
3.
something that reinforces or strengthens.
4.
Often, reinforcements. an additional supply of personnel, ships, aircraft, etc., for a military force.
5.
a system of steel bars, strands, wires, or mesh for absorbing the tensile and shearing stresses in concrete work.
6.
Psychology.
  1. a procedure, as a reward or punishment, that alters a response to a stimulus.
  2. the act of reinforcing a response.
Origin
1600-10; reinforce + -ment
Related forms
nonreinforcement, noun
Examples from the web for reinforcements
  • Construction is forbidden within red zones, while buildings in blue zones must include reinforcements or other defenses.
  • Soon after the surrender two regiments of reinforcements arrived, and after a severe fight were compelled to surrender.
  • They must give us food and boots and reinforcements, or soon there will be left only empty trenches.
  • It contains seven drainage ditches and stone reinforcements along some stretches.
  • Windows cut out along a back stairwell expose old bar reinforcements.
  • Police reinforcements, brought in after two nights of car-burning and confrontation, helped to calm the streets.
  • Supplies of food and water are running low, and red-shirt reinforcements are being prevented from joining the protests.
  • The government has sent reinforcements but so far they have failed to retake the town.
  • reinforcements arrive, but not before martyrs are made.
  • They blocked the ferry until dawn to prevent the police from getting reinforcements.
Word Origin and History for reinforcements

reinforcement

n.

c.1600, "act of reinforcing," from reinforce + -ment. Meaning "an augmentation, that which reinforces" is from 1650s. Related: Reinforcements.

reinforcements in Medicine

reinforcement re·in·force·ment (rē'ĭn-fôrs'mənt)
n.

  1. The act or process of reinforcing.

  2. Something that reinforces.

  3. The occurrence or experimental introduction of an unconditioned stimulus along with a conditioned stimulus.

  4. The strengthening of a conditioned response by such means.

  5. An event, a circumstance, or a condition that increases the likelihood that a given response will recur in a situation like that in which the reinforcing condition originally occurred.