v. & n.
--v. (past and past part. bred)
1. tr. & intr. bear, generate (offspring).
2 tr. & intr. propagate or cause to propagate; raise (livestock).
3 tr. a yield, produce; result in (war breeds famine). b spread (discontent bred by rumour).
4 intr. arise; spread (disease breeds in the Tropics).
5 tr. bring up; train (bred to the law; Hollywood breeds stars).
6 tr. Physics create (fissile material) by nuclear reaction.
--n.
1. a stock of animals or plants within a species, having a similar appearance, and usu. developed by deliberate selection.
2 a race; a lineage.
3 a sort, a kind.
Phrases and idioms:
bred and born born and bred. bred in the bone hereditary. breeder reactor a nuclear reactor that can create more fissile material than it consumes. breed in mate with or marry near relations.
Derivatives:
breeder n.
Etymology: OE bredan: rel. to BROOD