breed
1 of 2verb
ˈbrēd 
bred ˈbred ; breeding
; breeding transitive verb
1
: to produce (offspring) by hatching or gestation
yet every mother breeds not sons alike
Shakespeare
Shakespeare2
a
: beget sense 1
He bred a daughter.
b
: produce, engender
despair often breeds violence
3
biology : to propagate (plants or animals) sexually and usually under controlled conditions
bred several strains of corn together to produce a superior variety
4
a
: bring up, nurture
We were born and bred in the country.
b
: to inculcate by training
breed good manners into one's children
5
a
: mate entry 4 sense 3
the business of breeding cattle
a horse that is bred to a donkey
b
: to mate with : inseminate
c
: impregnate sense 2
delivered her kittens 63 days after being bred
6
physics : to produce (a fissionable element) by bombarding a nonfissionable element with neutrons from a radioactive element
intransitive verb
1
a
: to produce offspring by sexual union
places where mosquitoes breed
b
: copulate, mate
2
: to propagate animals or plants
breed
2 of 2noun
1
biology : a group of usually domesticated animals or plants presumably related by descent from common ancestors and visibly similar in most characters
exotic breeds of cats
retrievers and other popular dog breeds
2
: a number of persons of the same stock (see stock entry 1 sense 4a(1))
3
: class, kind
a new breed of athlete
such people are a dying breed
Synonyms
Verb
- multiply
- procreate
- propagate
- reproduce
Noun
- class
- description
- feather
- genre
- ilk
- kidney
- kind
- like
- manner
- nature
- order
- sort
- species
- strain
- stripe
- type
- variety
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb He got into the business of breeding cattle. The plants are bred to resist disease and drought. She believes that we are breeding a generation of children who know nothing about the history of their country. Noun The collie is a working breed. a new breed of athlete
Recent Examples on the Web Nylah Burton, refinery29.com, 5 Sep. 2022 The ultimate goal is a breeding program where scientists could select for genetic diversity and breed more resilient coral capable of withstanding threats like pollution, warming ocean waters and disease. Isabel Rosales, CNN, 4 Sep. 2022 During five seasons with Saban, Napier saw infrastructure, staffing and financial support breed success. Edgar Thompson, Orlando Sentinel, 2 Sep. 2022 Bedlington terriers grow distinctive poofs of fur at the top of their heads, giving the sweet-looking breed a lamb-like look. Katarina Avendano, Good Housekeeping, 25 Aug. 2022 Efforts to rescue the corncrake in Ireland began in the 1990s and included the banning of early mowing of meadows where corncrakes might breed. New York Times, 4 Aug. 2022 The larger population of eastern monarch butterflies, which typically breed over the summer across a wide swath of the United States and Canada east of the Rocky Mountains, is also declining, the scientists found. Denise Chow, NBC News, 21 July 2022 Despite all the promises and pronouncements, though, Outside leadership still clearly realize this effort will breed some skeptics. Andrew Weaver, Outside Online, 20 July 2022 Others say the changes will only breed more confusion in a region where the same highway can have three different names as commuters pass from one jurisdiction to another. Antonio Olivo, Washington Post, 16 June 2022 Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 16 Aug. 2022 The rare breed is one of the world’s last truly wild horses. Fox News, 12 Aug. 2022 This new breed of leaders will be mission-oriented, focused on delivering specific goals rather than general management. Jill Standish, Forbes, 9 Aug. 2022 The researchers focused solely on Border collies because earlier experiments found that the breed is more likely to be good at learning new words compared to others. Linda Carroll, NBC News, 5 Aug. 2022 Experts discuss what causes this and what the breed’s mission is. cleveland, 10 July 2022 Yet a detailed new study of dog behavior and genetics suggests that breed is actually of little value in anticipating the behavior or demeanor of any individual animal. Amy Hubbard, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2022 This new breed of experts are often women, like Ms. Davis, who honed their skills initially as amateurs piecing together their own family history. New York Times, 27 Mar. 2022 The new breed of film critics were dedicated cinephiles. Thomas Doherty, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Jan. 2022 See More
Verb
Bacteria and fungus live and breed on our skin normally. Nylah Burton, refinery29.com, 5 Sep. 2022 The ultimate goal is a breeding program where scientists could select for genetic diversity and breed more resilient coral capable of withstanding threats like pollution, warming ocean waters and disease. Isabel Rosales, CNN, 4 Sep. 2022 During five seasons with Saban, Napier saw infrastructure, staffing and financial support breed success. Edgar Thompson, Orlando Sentinel, 2 Sep. 2022 Bedlington terriers grow distinctive poofs of fur at the top of their heads, giving the sweet-looking breed a lamb-like look. Katarina Avendano, Good Housekeeping, 25 Aug. 2022 Efforts to rescue the corncrake in Ireland began in the 1990s and included the banning of early mowing of meadows where corncrakes might breed. New York Times, 4 Aug. 2022 The larger population of eastern monarch butterflies, which typically breed over the summer across a wide swath of the United States and Canada east of the Rocky Mountains, is also declining, the scientists found. Denise Chow, NBC News, 21 July 2022 Despite all the promises and pronouncements, though, Outside leadership still clearly realize this effort will breed some skeptics. Andrew Weaver, Outside Online, 20 July 2022 Others say the changes will only breed more confusion in a region where the same highway can have three different names as commuters pass from one jurisdiction to another. Antonio Olivo, Washington Post, 16 June 2022 Noun
And intriguingly, a recent DNA analysis suggests that the modern breed this Spanish colonial horse is most closely related to is none other than the Chincoteague pony. Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 16 Aug. 2022 The rare breed is one of the world’s last truly wild horses. Fox News, 12 Aug. 2022 This new breed of leaders will be mission-oriented, focused on delivering specific goals rather than general management. Jill Standish, Forbes, 9 Aug. 2022 The researchers focused solely on Border collies because earlier experiments found that the breed is more likely to be good at learning new words compared to others. Linda Carroll, NBC News, 5 Aug. 2022 Experts discuss what causes this and what the breed’s mission is. cleveland, 10 July 2022 Yet a detailed new study of dog behavior and genetics suggests that breed is actually of little value in anticipating the behavior or demeanor of any individual animal. Amy Hubbard, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2022 This new breed of experts are often women, like Ms. Davis, who honed their skills initially as amateurs piecing together their own family history. New York Times, 27 Mar. 2022 The new breed of film critics were dedicated cinephiles. Thomas Doherty, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Jan. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Verb
Middle English breden, from Old English brēdan; akin to Old English brōd brood
Noun
noun derivative of breed entry 1
First Known Use
Verb
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Noun
1553, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing breed
Kids Definition
breed 1 of 2
verb
ˈbrēd
bred
ˈbred
; breeding 1
: to produce or increase (animals or plants) by sexual reproduction
Ranchers breed cattle for market.
2
: to produce offspring by sexual reproduction
Mosquitoes breed in damp areas.
3
: to bring up : train
I was born and bred in this town.
4
: to bring about : cause
Poverty breeds despair.
breed
2 of 2noun
1
: a kind of animal or plant that is found only under human care and is different from related kinds
a breed of long-haired dogs
2
: class entry 1 sense 6, kind I don't like his breed of humor.
Medical Definition
breed 1 of 2
verb
ˈbrēd
bred ˈbred ; breeding
; breeding transitive verb
1
: to produce (offspring) by hatching or gestation
2
: to propagate (plants or animals) sexually and usually under controlled conditions
3
a
: mate
b
: to mate with : inseminate
c
: impregnate sense 1
intransitive verb
1
a
: to produce offspring by sexual union
b
: copulate, mate
2
: to propagate animals or plants
breed
2 of 2noun
: a group of animals or plants presumably related by descent from common ancestors and visibly similar in most characters
especially : such a group differentiated from the wild type under domestication
breed 1 of 2
noun
as in type
a number of persons or things that are grouped together because they have something in common some people say that honest politicians are a rare breed Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- type
- kind
- genre
- sort
- stripe
- variety
- species
- nature
- like
- description
- kidney
- strain
- manner
- class
- ilk
- order
- persuasion
- feather
- model
- specimen
- category
- family
- group
- sample
- grouping
- set
- division
- suite
- bracket
- bunch
- grade
- lot
- rank(s)
breed
2 of 2verb
1
as in to reproduce
to bring forth offspring rabbits will breed very frequently unless they're kept separated Synonyms & Similar Words
- reproduce
- propagate
- multiply
- sire
- procreate
- produce
- spawn
- gender
- parent
- mother
- hatch
- have
- beget
- generate
- bear
- get
- engender
2
as in to foster
to bring to maturity through care and education he was bred to a life in the military by his father, himself an army captain Synonyms & Similar Words
- foster
- nurture
- raise
- feed
- cultivate
- teach
- educate
- promote
- father
- mother
- nourish
- nurse
- rear
- watch
- bring up
- cradle
- discipline
- school
- train
- shepherd
- mentor
- supply
- attend
- further
- indoctrinate
- lead
- show
- minister (to)
- mind
- enlighten
- instruct
- guide
- tutor
- prepare
- forward
- advance
- edify
- direct
- care (for)
- provide (for)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- mistreat
- abuse
- neglect
- ignore
- maltreat
- harm
- mishandle
- injure
- ill-treat
- hurt
- ill-use
3
as in to cause
to be the cause of (a situation, action, or state of mind) this habit of favoring one employee over the others will breed resentment Synonyms & Similar Words
- cause
- create
- bring
- spawn
- generate
- do
- produce
- work
- prompt
- beget
- yield
- effect
- induce
- draw on
- bring about
- occasion
- make
- engender
- invoke
- bring forth
- catalyze
- bring on
- effectuate
- translate (into)
- promote
- foster
- encourage
- introduce
- found
- institute
- develop
- nurture
- pioneer
- cultivate
- father
- establish
- determine
- innovate
- result (in)
- decide
- inaugurate
- contribute (to)
- conduce (to)
- give rise to
- further
- begin
- initiate
- launch
- start
- turn out
- set up
- set
- forward
- nourish
- render
- advance
- enact
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- restrict
- limit
- stifle
- control
- impede
- subdue
- squash
- smother
- suppress
- crush
- kill
- quash
- squelch
- retard
- restrain
- repress
- check
- curb
- quell
- put down
- can
- dampen
- destroy
- inhibit
- rein (in)
- arrest
- clamp down (on)
- still
- crack down (on)
- snuff (out)
- abolish
- demolish
- liquidate
- extinguish
- quench
4
as in to mate
to engage in sexual intercourse cats breeding outside our window made a horrible racket last night Synonyms & Similar Words
- mate
- sleep
- have sex
- copulate
- do it
- fornicate
- fool around
5
as in to plant
to set permanently in the consciousness or mind-set parents who breed in their children a deep respect for people of all classes Synonyms & Similar Words
- plant
- inseminate
- root
- sow
- implant
- inculcate
- instill
- embed
- lodge
- drive
- enroot
- infix
- pound
- invest
- inoculate
- entrench
- imbue
- hammer
- infuse
- imbed
- ingrain
- engrain
- suffuse
- fix
- steep
- intrench