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Breed Verb: Meaning, Usage, and Examples (2 meaning)
Meaning 1：produce offspring (breed)
breed
/briːd/
v.
When animals mate and have babies.
produce offspring
➕
/prəˈdjuːs ˈɒf.sprɪŋ/
v.
To produce young through sexual reproduction, typically for animals, resulting in the continuation of a species or line.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Root Explanation
From Old English 'bredan', related to 'brood', meaning to produce offspring or nurture young.
💡 Mnemonic
Think of 'bread dough' – just as you shape dough, breeders shape genetics to create new breeds.
📖 Example
The panda pair at the conservation center successfully bred last spring, giving hope for the survival of this rare species.
Last spring, the panda pair at the conservation center successfully bred, giving hope for the survival of this rare species.
🔗 Collocations
breed in captivity – to reproduce while confined, typically in zoos or farms
breed true – to produce offspring with consistent, inherited traits
selective breed – to choose parents for mating based on desired characteristics
🔄 Synonyms
🚫 Antonyms
🌱 Derivatives
breeder (n.) – a person who raises animals or plants for reproduction
breeding (n.) – the process of producing offspring or the result of selective mating
crossbreed (v./n.) – to mate different breeds or varieties; the offspring of such mating
📖 Cultural Story
Originating in Old English, 'breed' has been central to agriculture for centuries, reflecting human efforts to selectively mate animals and cultivate plants for desired traits.
Meaning 2：selective breeding (breed)
breed
/briːd/
v.
To keep and mate animals or grow plants to get specific, desirable qualities in their offspring.
selective breeding
➕
/sɪˈlek.tɪv ˈbriː.dɪŋ/
v.
To deliberately control the mating of organisms or cultivation of plants to produce offspring with specific desirable genetic traits, such as disease resistance or higher yield.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Example
For centuries, farmers have bred crops to be more resistant to disease and to produce greater yields.
For centuries, farmers have practiced selective breeding on crops to make them more resistant to disease and to produce greater yields.
🔗 Collocations
selectively breed – to choose specific individuals for mating to enhance desired traits
breed for resistance – to select organisms that show resistance to a particular disease or condition
purebred – an animal bred from parents of the same breed or variety, often for consistency
🔄 Synonyms
cultivate (v.) – to grow and manage plants, often with selective breeding
propagate (v.) – to cause plants or animals to reproduce and multiply
domesticate (v.) – to adapt wild animals or plants for human use through selective breeding
🚫 Antonyms
🌱 Derivatives
breeder (n.) – a person who engages in selective breeding of animals or plants
breeding (n.) – the activity of mating or cultivating for specific traits
crossbreed (v./n.) – to breed different breeds or species; the hybrid result
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