domesticate Definition
do·mes·ti·cate (dō mes′ti kāt′, də-)
transitive verb -·cat′ed, -·cat′·ing
- to accustom to home life; make domestic
- to tame (wild animals) and breed for human use
- to adapt and cultivate (wild plants) for human use
- to introduce (foreign animals or plants) into another region or country; naturalize
- 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
domesticate Synonyms
domesticate
v.
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.
Browse dictionary entries near domesticate
- ‹ domestic science
- ‹ domestic relations court
- ‹ domestic partner
- ‹ domestic corporation
- ‹ domestic
- ‹ Domesday Book
- ‹ domesday
- ‹ dome
- ‹ domal
- ‹ DomainKeys
- domesticated ›
- domesticity ›
- domical ›
- domicile ›
- domiciliate ›
- dominance ›
- dominant ›
- dominant estate ›
- dominate ›
- domination ›

