Of an animal: of excellent breed or stock; of a superior nature, spirit, or disposition. Obsolete.

Of a true or genuine breed; thoroughbred; (hence) of high or pure quality.

Of an animal: of good or pure stock.

Of an animal (esp. a dog or a horse) or its attributes: showing high breeding; of a streamlined appearance; long-bodied and lean.

Of animals: Of good breed. So with reference to the comparative purity of the breed: thorough-bred, half-bred, three-parts-bred, etc.

Of an animal or plant: of good or pure stock. Cf. well-bred, adj. 2.

Of an animal: pure-bred.

= pure-blooded, adj. Also in extended use: absolutely representative of or true to a given type or category.

Of a domestic animal other than a horse: of pure breed or stock.

Chiefly with hyphen. Of unmixed origin or descent; pure-bred.

U.S. Of animals: of superior quality.

pure-bred, descended from one breed only (cf. sense A. 9e).

Originally U.S. Of animals: pure-bred. Cf. straight-bred adj. at compounds 2b of the adverb below.