breed
breed Lexical Profile
breed Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A stock of animals or plants within a species having a distinctive appearance and typically having been developed by deliberate selection.
"The golden retriever is a popular dog breed known for its gentle temperament."
A particular kind, sort, or class of person or thing sharing common characteristics.
"She represents a new breed of entrepreneur focused on environmental sustainability."
• verb
To mate and then produce offspring (of animals).
"Many migratory birds return to the northern wetlands each spring to breed."
To keep and mate animals or propagate plants selectively in order to develop specific desirable qualities.
"Local farmers breed cattle that can thrive in the arid climate."
To cause, generate, or lead to the development of a particular condition or emotion over time.
"Familiarity with the safety protocols should never be allowed to breed complacency."
To rear, educate, or train a person in a specified environment or way of life (usually used in the passive).
"He was born and bred in the coastal fishing village."
• Rhymes for breed
Word Origin & Etymology
From Old English 'bredan', meaning 'to bring young to birth' or 'to cherish and keep warm', derived from the Germanic noun root 'brod' ('brood'), which is related to the concept of warming or hatching.