Definition of breed
(Entry 1 of 2)
1
: to produce (offspring) by hatching or gestation
yet every mother breeds not sons alike— Shakespeare
2a
: beget sense 1
He bred a daughter.
3
biology
: to propagate (plants or animals) sexually and usually under controlled conditions
bred several strains of corn together to produce a superior variety
b
: to inculcate by training
breed good manners into one's children
5a
: 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
2
: to propagate animals or plants
breed
nounDefinition of breed (Entry 2 of 2)
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))
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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Time Traveler for breed
The first known use of breed was before the 12th century
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