breed
breed
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling of breed is /briːd/.
The word "breed" is a single-syllable word composed of the following sounds:
/b/: The b sound as in "bat."
/r/: The r sound as in "run."
/iː/: The long ee vowel sound as in "see."
/d/: The d sound as in "dog."
Word Form Variations
Noun (singular): breed
Noun (plural): breeds
Verb (base): breed
Verb (past tense): bred
Verb (past participle): bred
Verb (present participle): breeding
Verb (third-person singular): breeds
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
A specific group of domestic animals or plants having a distinct appearance and other characteristics that have been developed through selective mating.
Synonyms: stock, strain, variety, type, kind
Antonyms: mongrel, mutt, hybrid
A particular type or kind of person or thing, often sharing common qualities.
Synonyms: sort, type, class, kind, category
Antonyms: individual, anomaly, outlier
Verb
(Of animals) To mate and produce offspring.
Synonyms: reproduce, procreate, multiply, propagate
Antonyms: sterilize, be barren
To keep and manage animals or plants for the purpose of producing offspring with desired traits.
Synonyms: raise, rear, cultivate, farm
Antonyms: neglect, destroy
To cause, foster, or give rise to a particular feeling, condition, or quality, often a negative one.
Synonyms: cause, create, generate, foster, engender
Antonyms: prevent, stop, destroy, stifle
Examples of Use
As a Noun
In a Newspaper: "The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show crowned a petit basset griffon Vendéen... a first for the rabbit-hunting breed." (The New York Times, May 2023)
In a Book: "It was a wonderful thing to see the big, magnificent animal, the prize of his breed, come striding out into the ring, but this lithe, eager creature, lashing his tail and panting with impatience, was something different." (James Herriot, All Creatures Great and Small)
In Entertainment: In the film Batman Begins (2005), the character Henri Ducard tells Bruce Wayne, "You are a different breed, Mr. Wayne."
In an Online Publication: "Like many Arctic dog breeds, the Siberian Husky has a thick double coat that insulates them from the cold." (American Kennel Club website)
As a Verb
In an Online Publication: "In an environment of uncertainty, where clear communication is absent, rumors are born, and misinformation can breed." (Forbes, April 2023)
In a Book: "The Party was not concerned with perpetuating its blood but with perpetuating itself. Who wielded power was not important, provided that the hierarchical structure remained always the same. All the beliefs, habits, tastes, emotions, mental attitudes that characterized our time are really designed to sustain the mystique of the Party and prevent the true nature of present-day society from being perceived. Physical rebellion, or the preliminary to rebellion, is pointless. From the proletarians nothing is to be feared. Left to themselves, they will continue from generation to generation and from century to century, working, breeding, and dying..." (George Orwell, Nineteen Eighty-Four)
In Entertainment: In the nature documentary series Our Planet, a narrator might explain, "For these emperor penguins, this is the only time of year they will come ashore—to breed and raise their young."
In Public Discourse: The common proverb, often used in conversation and speeches, states that "familiarity breeds contempt."
10 Famous Quotes Using Breed
Familiarity breeds contempt. (Proverb)
This happy breed of men, this little world, this precious stone set in the silver sea. (William Shakespeare, Richard II)
Hate breeds hate; violence breeds violence; toughness breeds a greater toughness. (Martin Luther King Jr.)
God forbid that I should vary any of the characteristics of that formidable breed. (Winston Churchill)
The lack of power to take joy in outdoor nature is a sign of weakness in a people and a breed. (Theodore Roosevelt)
When we see any structure highly developed, we may suspect that it is of use to each breed in its struggle for life. (Charles Darwin, On the Origin of Species)
This is not a business, it's a sport, and we are not a breed of bookkeepers. (Penny Chenery)
You're a hell of an aviator, Maverick; a special breed. (Top Gun, 1986)
Success breeds success. (Proverb)
Ignorance breeds fear. (Proverb)
Etymology
At its core, the word breed comes from a very warm and nurturing idea: keeping something safe and warm so it can develop.
Its journey begins in Old English with the word brēdan, which didn't mean "to reproduce" at first. Instead, it meant "to cherish, keep warm, or nourish." The original image was that of a mother bird sitting on her eggs to hatch them, or a mother animal keeping her young warm. This is directly related to the word "brood."
Around the year 1200, the meaning of brēdan naturally expanded. The act of keeping eggs warm leads to hatching, so the word's meaning shifted to include the result of that process: "to produce offspring" or "to give birth to." This is the first known use of the verb breed as we primarily understand it today.
It took several more centuries for the noun form to appear. Around the late 1500s, people started using breed to refer to the result of all that breeding—a specific "stock" or "type" of animal that was produced through selective mating.
So, a word that started with the simple, cozy action of keeping something warm evolved to describe the entire act of creating new life, and eventually, the distinct kinds of life that result from that process.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Breed
Familiarity breeds contempt. – This well-known proverb means that knowing someone or something for a long time can lead to a loss of respect.
To breed like rabbits. – An idiom used to describe rapid and prolific reproduction.
A dying breed. – Refers to a type of person or thing that is becoming increasingly rare or obsolete.
A different breed of (something). – A phrase used to describe a person or thing that is fundamentally different from others in its class (e.g., "a different breed of athlete").
Success breeds success. – A proverb suggesting that achieving success makes it easier to achieve more success in the future.
A rare breed. – Describes an individual with uncommon qualities, skills, or characteristics, often in an admirable way.
To breed resentment/distrust. – To cause negative feelings like resentment or distrust to grow and fester over time.
Home-bred. – An adjective phrase describing something or someone that is developed or originates locally (e.g., "home-bred talent").
A special breed. – Similar to "a rare breed," this phrase highlights that someone has unique and exceptional qualities.
Ignorance breeds fear. – A proverb stating that a lack of knowledge or understanding is the root cause of fear.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of breed from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
