BREED

[verb] [past:] bred - to keep (animals or plants) for the purpose of producing young animals or plants with chosen qualities, or (of animals) to have sex and reproduceMy father breeds alpine plants. [T]American pit bull terriers are bred for their fighting instincts. [T]The blackbird, like most birds, breeds in the spring. [I](figurative) Favouritism breeds (= produces) resentment. [T]His main income comes from breeding cattle.See also inbred (ESTABLISHED); inbred (RELATED); purebred; thoroughbred; well-bred.