Verb

Infinitive to breed

Third person singular breeds

Simple past bred

Past participle bred

Present participle breeding

to breed (third-person singular simple present breeds, present participle breeding, simple past and past participle bred)

1. To sexually produce offspring.
2. Of animals, to mate.
3. To keep animals and have them reproduce in a way that improves the next generation’s qualities.
4. To arrange the mating of specific animals.

   She wanted to breed her cow to the neighbor's registered bull.

5. To propagate or grow plants trying to give them certain qualities.

   He tries to breed blue roses.

6. To make sure that one's young grow up to adulthood.
7. To yield or result in.

   Disaster breeds famine.

   familiarity breeds contempt.

Related terms

breeder; breeding

Noun

Singular breed

Plural breeds

breed (plural breeds)

1. All animals or plants of the same species or subspecies eg. a breed of tulip, a breed of animal.
2. A race or lineage.

A breed is a group of domestic animals with a homogeneous appearance, behavior, and other characteristics that distinguish it from other animals of the same species. When bred together, animals of the same breed pass on these uniform traits to their offspring, and this ability—known as "breeding true"—is a definitive requirement for a breed. The offspring produced as a result of breeding animals of one breed with other animals of another breed are known as crossbreeds or mixed breeds. Plant breeds are more commonly known as varieties, or cultivars, and crosses between plant cultivars (or species) are referred to as hybrids.. Breeds are usually not classified scientifically; instead being grouped by breeders according to similar characteristics.

Breeders

The breeder or breeders who initially establish a breed, do so by selecting individual animals from within the groups gene pool that they see as having the necessary qualities needed to enhance the breed model they are aiming for. These animals are referred to as “breed foundation”, or “breed origination”. Further, the breeder mates the most desirable from his point of view representatives, aiming to pass such characteristics to their progeny. This process is known as selective breeding. A written description of desirable and undesirable breed representatives is referred to as a breed standard.