Breed


to produce (offspring); procreate; engender.
to produce by mating; propagate sexually; reproduce:
Ten mice were bred in the laboratory.
Horticulture.

to cause to reproduce by controlled pollination.
to improve by controlled pollination and selection.

to raise (cattle, sheep, etc.):
He breeds longhorns on the ranch.
to cause or be the source of; engender; give rise to:
Dirt breeds disease. Stagnant water breeds mosquitoes.
to develop by training or education; bring up; rear:
He was born and bred a gentleman.
Energy. to produce more fissile nuclear fuel than is consumed in a reactor.
to impregnate; mate:
Breed a strong mare with a fast stallion and hope for a Derby winner.
to produce offspring:
Many animals breed in the spring.
to be engendered or produced; grow; develop:
Bacteria will not breed in alcohol.
to cause the birth of young, as in raising stock.
to be pregnant.
Genetics. a relatively homogenous group of animals within a species, developed and maintained by humans.
lineage; stock; strain:
She comes from a fine breed of people.
sort; kind; group:
Scholars are a quiet breed.
Disparaging and Offensive. half-breed (def 1).
Contemporary Examples

The Rise of Sexist Fashion, From Plain Jane Homme to Disney Soraya Roberts May 8, 2013
Explosion of Cute: Inside the Superfan Mania of Hello Kitty Con 2014 Sarah Bay Williams November 1, 2014
Pit Bull Owners Attack, Too Charles Leerhsen March 27, 2010
Arrested Development Meets Saturday Night Live Isabel Wilkinson April 18, 2009
Spate of Pit Bull Attacks Has Nation on Alert Jamie Reno June 21, 2012

Historical Examples

Astounding Stories of Super-Science, June, 1930 Various
Beowulf Unknown
The Descent of Man and Selection in Relation to Sex Charles Darwin
Tales And Novels, Volume 9 (of 10) Maria Edgeworth
Bird Guide Chester A. Reed

verb breeds, breeding, bred
to bear (offspring)
(transitive) to bring up; raise
to produce or cause to produce by mating; propagate
to produce and maintain new or improved strains of (domestic animals and plants)
to produce or be produced; generate: to breed trouble, violence breeds in densely populated areas
noun
a group of organisms within a species, esp a group of domestic animals, originated and maintained by man and having a clearly defined set of characteristics
a lineage or race: a breed of Europeans
a kind, sort, or group: a special breed of hatred
v.
n.
breed
(brēd)
Verb

Noun A group of organisms having common ancestors and sharing certain traits that are not shared with other members of the same species. Breeds are usually produced by mating selected parents.
see: familiarity breeds contempt

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    to produce (offspring); procreate; engender. to produce by mating; propagate sexually; reproduce: Ten mice were bred in the laboratory. Horticulture. to cause to reproduce by controlled pollination. to improve by controlled pollination and selection. to raise (cattle, sheep, etc.): He breeds longhorns on the ranch. to cause or be the source of; engender; give rise […]

  • Breeder

    an animal, plant, or person that produces offspring or reproduces. a person who raises animals or plants primarily for breeding purposes. Also called breeder reactor. Energy. a nuclear reactor in which more fissile material is produced than is consumed. Contemporary Examples When Did “Married Without Children” Become Gauche? Rachel Shukert November 14, 2008 Historical Examples […]

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    an animal, plant, or person that produces offspring or reproduces. a person who raises animals or plants primarily for breeding purposes. Also called breeder reactor. Energy. a nuclear reactor in which more fissile material is produced than is consumed. noun a type of nuclear reactor that produces more fissionable material than it consumes Compare converter […]


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