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breed

breed

 
pronunciation:
brid
parts of speech:
transitive verb, intransitive verb, noun
features:
Word Combinations (verb, noun), Word Explorer
part of speech: transitive verb
inflections: breeds, breeding, bred
definition 1: to produce (offspring); give birth to.
The healthy animals will soon breed offspring.
synonyms:
bear, beget, engender, generate, mother, procreate, produce, propagate, spawn
similar words:
father, reproduce, sire
definition 2: to cause or encourage to reproduce.
Her family breeds racehorses.
synonyms:
mate, propagate
similar words:
cultivate, develop, generate, grow, proliferate, promote, raise
definition 3: in genetics, to fertilize or pollinate under controlled conditions in order to develop or improve a strain.
These organisms will be bred in the laboratory.
similar words:
clone, crossbreed, fertilize, graft, hybridize, interbreed, pollinate, propagate
definition 4: to beget or engender; cause.
Oppression breeds revolution.Violence breeds revenge.
synonyms:
beget, cause, engender, generate, spawn
similar words:
foster, nurture, occasion, produce
definition 5: to bring up or educate; rear.
These children were bred to take their place in a structured and privileged society.
synonyms:
foster, nurture, raise, rear
similar words:
mother
 
part of speech: intransitive verb
definition 1: to produce offspring.
It is hoped that the newly introduced polar bears will breed in the zoo.
synonyms:
multiply, procreate, propagate, reproduce, spawn
similar words:
bear, copulate, couple, increase, litter, mate, proliferate
definition 2: to be produced.
Fear breeds in violent neighborhoods.
similar words:
arise, develop, emerge, grow
Word CombinationsSubscriber feature About this feature
 
part of speech: noun
definition 1: a group of animals within one species, having relatively unvaried physical characteristics, developed under controlled conditions by man.
The poodle is a breed of dog originally raised as a retriever of game birds from water.
 
synonyms:
race
similar words:
family, kind, sort, species, strain, type, variety
definition 2: a type, kind, or variety.
He represents a new breed of environmental activist.
synonyms:
kind, manner, sort, type, variety
similar words:
description, form, species
Word CombinationsSubscriber feature About this feature
derivation: breedable (adj.)
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See
  bird, cat, farm, pet, reproduce