breeding

noun

breed·ing | \ ˈbrē-diŋ

Definition of breeding

1 : the action or process of bearing or generating

2 : ancestry

3a archaic : education she had her breeding at my father's charge— William Shakespeare

b : training in or observance of the proprieties

4 : the sexual propagation of plants or animals

Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about breeding

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Examples of breeding in a Sentence

She became involved in the breeding of sled dogs. His politeness shows good breeding. a person who lacks breeding

Recent Examples on the Web

Limit their breeding Remove stagnant water from areas such as flowerpots, plastic containers, gutters, and downspouts. — Mary Spicuzza, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Mosquitoes test positive for West Nile virus in Milwaukee County: Here's how to protect yourself," 29 June 2018 Baffert suggested a closer examination of the sport needs to begin in the breeding shed, where millions of dollars are often involved. — Beth Harris, The Seattle Times, "Racing resumes without incident at Santa Anita," 29 Mar. 2019 Fast-breeding pests that are tolerant of pollutants, like flies and cockroaches, will likely fill the vacancies left behind and continue to thrive due to warmer global temperatures and the disappearance of their slow-to-breed predators. — Jill Kiedaisch, Popular Mechanics, "The Staggering Worldwide Decline of Insects Is a Warning of Ecosystem Collapse," 13 Feb. 2019 Swift speculates that a minority of crows lose their minds during the breeding season. — Laura Yan, Popular Mechanics, "Why Do Crows Have Sex with the Dead?," 21 July 2018 Based on some breeding work done in Louisiana, the Southgate Series of rhododendrons are heat tolerant and worth a try. — Dan Gill, NOLA.com, "Keep these plants out of your South Louisiana garden," 17 Mar. 2018 Dairy farms have increased dairy production over the last decade; farmers have both upped production on the whole, and breeding and innovations in technology mean cows are individually producing more milk. — Tara Golshan, Vox, "Why Trump’s trade agenda might worsen America’s cheese glut," 4 July 2018 Along with serving as breeding and migration habitats for waterfowl, wetlands serve as nature’s filtration system, Sebastian said. — Mi Clear, Detroit Free Press, "MI CLEAR brings together diverse groups to reduce algae blooms in Lake Erie," 20 June 2018 Innovations in tomato breeding and mechanical harvester technologies, driven in part by demand for the condiment, helped define modern industrial agriculture. — Amy Bentley, BostonGlobe.com, "Is ketchup the perfect complement to the American diet?," 10 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'breeding.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.