I. -ˌbred adjective
1.
a. : thoroughly trained or skilled
a thoroughbred soldier who weighs all contingencies
b. : thorough , complete , genuine
a thoroughbred sailor — Herman Melville
2. : bred from the best blood through a long line : pureblood , purebred — used of domestic animals
3.
[ thoroughbred (II) ]
a. usually capitalized : of, relating to, or being a member of the breed of horses called Thoroughbred
b.
(1) : having characteristics resembling those of a Thoroughbred : graceful , elegant , cultivated , aristocratic
more thoroughbred or fairer fingers — Lord Byron
a beautifully … thoroughbred piece of work moving with … conscious but quiet assurance — M.R.Ridley
(2) : first-class
the stability and accuracy of the thoroughbred sports car — Country Life
• thor·ough·bred·ness noun -es
II. noun
1. usually capitalized
a. : an English breed of light speedy horses kept chiefly for racing and originating from crosses between English mares of uncertain ancestry and Arabian stallions imported about the end of the 17th century
b. -s : a horse of this breed
2. -s : a purebred or pedigreed animal
3. -s : one that has characteristics resembling those of a Thoroughbred: as
a. : a thoroughbred person
b. : a first-class vehicle
[s]thorough.jpg[/s] [
Thoroughbred
]