transitive verb bred, breeding breed′·ing

1. to bring forth (offspring) from the womb or hatch (young) from the egg
2. to be the source of; produce ignorance breeds prejudice
3. 1. to cause to reproduce; raise, esp. by controlled mating to breed dogs
   2. to produce (plants) by selective pollination
   3. to mate with
   4. to develop (a stock or certain characteristics in it) by such mating or pollination
4. to bring up, train, or educate he was bred to be a gentleman
5. to produce (fissile material) in a breeder reactor

Etymology: ME breden < OE bredan < brod, fetus, hatching: see brood

intransitive verb

1. to be produced; originate crime breeds in slums
2. to bring forth offspring; reproduce

noun

1. a group, or stock, of animals or plants descended from common ancestors and having similar characteristics, esp. such a group cultivated by humans
2. a kind; sort; type men of the same breed