breeding
- 1The producing of young when male and female animals or plants join.
Like planting seeds to grow new plants: animals make new young in their own way.
The breeding of pandas in zoos is notoriously difficult.
Successful breeding depends on the health of both parents.
Similarreproduction, procreation, propagation, rearing
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- 2Present participle of breed. Use this form for an action happening right now.
They are breeding horses on the new farm.
She is breeding tropical fish in her garage.
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- 3Used for or having to do with producing young animals.
The ranch maintains a strong breeding stock.
Salmon return to the river during the breeding season.
Similarreproductive, mating
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- 4Good manners that people think come from being born into a high-class family.
Like table manners learned at home: it shows in how politely someone behaves.
Her good breeding showed in the way she greeted every guest.
People admired the breeding of the young prince.
Similarrefinement, gentility, polish, manners, cultivation
Oppositevulgarity, coarseness
- 5When male and female animals come together to produce young.
The breeding of the cattle takes place in early spring.
Zookeepers watched closely for any sign that breeding had begun.
Similarmating, copulation, coupling
- 6Getting sperm into a female animal, either by mating or with special tools.
The farmer wrote down the date of each cow's breeding so he would know when to expect the calves.
Artificial breeding helped the rare birds produce more eggs.
Similarinsemination, mating, covering
- 7
- 8The way a child is raised and taught how to behave.
His breeding was left to his grandparents after his parents moved away for work.
Good breeding begins with the lessons children learn at home.
Similarupbringing, rearing, nurture, education, training
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- 9Releasing semen inside a partner's rear during anal sex without a condom.
He preferred breeding to using a condom with his partner.
After breeding, both men went to get tested for infections.
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Showing meanings only.
breeding is a form of breed
breed, verb: To raise animals and choose which ones have young, so the next generation is better. Full entry
- Spelling
- breed → breeding: add -ing
Practice
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Origins
From Middle English breedyng, which meant things like gestation, hatching, and growth. It comes from breed plus -ing.
From Middle English bredyng, from Old English, going back to a Proto-Germanic word meaning 'to brood or breed.' It is breed plus -ing.