domesticate

(dō mes′ti kāt′, də-)

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
to bring (a foreign custom, word, etc.) into a region or country and make it acceptable

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

intransitive verb

Archaic to become domestic

Related Forms:

See domesticate in American Heritage Dictionary 4

transitive verb do·mes·ti·cat·ed, do·mes·ti·cat·ing, do·mes·ti·cates

To cause to feel comfortable at home; make domestic.
To adopt or make fit for domestic use or life.
a. To train or adapt (an animal or plant) to live in a human environment and be of use to humans.
b. To introduce and accustom (an animal or plant) into another region; naturalize.
To bring down to the level of the ordinary person.

noun (-kət, -kātˌ)

A plant or animal that has been adapted to live in a human environment.

Related Forms: