domesticate Hear it!

domesticate Definition

do·mes·ti·cate (dō mes′ti kāt′, də-)

transitive verb -·cat′ed, -·cat′·ing

  1. to accustom to home life; make domestic
    1. to tame (wild animals) and breed for human use
    2. to adapt and cultivate (wild plants) for human use
    3. to introduce (foreign animals or plants) into another region or country; naturalize
  3. to bring (a foreign custom, word, etc.) into a region or country and make it acceptable

Etymology: < ML domesticatus, pp. of domesticare, to tame, live in a family < L domesticus < domus: see dome

intransitive verb

Archaic to become domestic

domesticate Related Forms

do·mes′·ti·ca′·tion noun

domesticate Synonyms

domesticate

v.

tame, train, breed, housebreak, subdue, break, gentle, break in, bust*; see also breed 3, teach 2, train 4.

domesticate Usage Examples

Object

  • animal: Zoo animals differ from domesticated animals in human care in several respects.
  • livestock: The disease in domesticated livestock took a very mild course with no mortalities being recorded.
  • elephant: The domesticated elephants are still being used to clear forests illegally.
  • mammal: In domesticated mammals the retina is the reflective area at the back of the eye which responds to light.
  • sheep: Before they were domesticated, moreover, sheep had no wool suitable for textile purposes.
  • cattle: From Western Europe were introduced domesticated cattle, sheep, pigs, wheat and barley.

Subject

Egyptian: This species was domesticated by the ancient Egyptians and has spread all over the world in many different domestic strains.

Noun phrase with adjective complement

such: These viruses can cause the common cold and often infect domesticated animals such as cats, chickens and pigs.

Modifying Another Word

  • thoroughly: But today, the patchwork of land around has been thoroughly domesticated by its sale for ranch-style housing.
  • normally: Wild animals are those that are not normally domesticated in Great Britain.
  • fully: These gardens are tended patches of vegetation of intermediate status between fully wild and fully domesticated.
  • first: Cats were first domesticated 8,000 years ago by people in the Far East who considered them to be good luck.
  • very: He is also very domesticated with great skill in cooking and textiles!
  • not: I am not domesticated, as I told him.

Present participle complement

include: As well as the Shires we have a fantastic selection of British animals & birdlife both wild & domesticated including many rare breeds.

Preposition: in

part: World: Africa, including the Nile Valley, and domesticated in other parts of the world.

Preposition: from

  • wolf: Richard Byrne, of St Andrew's University, said the study could overturn accepted theories about how dogs became domesticated from the wolf.
  • guanaco: They are domesticated from the guanaco, a wild camelid living primarily in Patagonia.

Preposition: for

purpose: All but beaver and squirrel have been domesticated for this purpose.

Preposition: by

Egyptian: This species was domesticated by the ancient Egyptians and has spread all over the world in many different domestic strains.