inbreed
inbreed Lexical Profile
inbreed Game Scores & Validity
• verb
To breed or mate with a closely related individual or organism, or to cause closely related plants or animals to reproduce together.
"Isolated wildlife populations often inbreed over several generations, which reduces their overall genetic diversity."
To produce, develop, or instill a quality, trait, or habit deeply within a person or group from an early stage.
"Years of rigorous training tend to inbreed a strong sense of discipline and caution in commercial pilots."
• Rhymes for inbreed
Word Origin & Etymology
Formed in the 16th century from the prefix 'in-' (meaning 'within') and the verb 'breed' (from Old English 'bredan', meaning 'to cherish, keep warm, or produce offspring'). Originally used in the sense of generating an innate quality within a person, the biological sense of mating closely related organisms emerged in the early 19th century.