Words / B1

BREED/briːd/

Animals breed when they produce young: birds breed in spring; breed horses. Breed as a noun is a type of animal: a rare breed of sheep. Raise and rear are close when people look after animals; reproduce is more biological and also used for cells. Cross-breed describes mixed types. Do not use breed for people in careful modern English — it can sound offensive; say have children or come from a family of…

Meaning

When animals produce young; also a particular type of animal.

Examples

• “These birds breed near the lake in spring.”
• “The sanctuary helps rare breeds of cattle to survive.”
• “Salmon breed in the river before swimming back out to sea.”

Good to know

Verb: animals breed. Noun: a breed of dog / sheep. People looking after animals: raise / rear. Avoid breed for people.

Near in meaning

raise

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