v.
(past and past part. bred)
- (of animals) mate and then produce offspring.
▸cause (an animal) to produce offspring.
▸develop (a variety of plant or animal).
- bring up to behave in a particular way.
- produce or lead to:
success had bred a certain arrogance.
- Physics create (fissile material) by nuclear reaction.
n.
- a distinctive stock of animals or plants within a species, typically one deliberately developed.
- a sort or kind.
Etymology
OE brēdan, of Gmc origin; rel. to brood.