breed
gb/bɹˈid/ us/bɹˈid/
B1
English
~ 7500
fajta, szaporodik, költ, ívik, tenyészt, nemesít, típus, szül, okoz, nevelkedik, felnő, fogságban tenyésztett
NOUN
B1
1
fajta
A2
Usage pattern:
a [breed] of [animal]
What breed of dog is that?
Milyen fajta kutya az?
Some breeds of chicken are better for egg production than others.
Egyes tyúkfajták másoknál alkalmasabbak tojástermelésre.
The farm specializes in rare sheep breeds.
This cat breed is known for its blue eyes and calm nature.
Mixed-breed dogs are often healthier than pure breeds.
Learner examples
My favorite dog breed is the Labrador.
A kedvenc kutyafajtám a labrador.
That small brown dog is a new breed for me.
Az a kis barna kutya nekem ismeretlen fajta.
Some breeds of cows give more milk.
This breed of flower grows well in cold weather.
He wants to buy a big horse breed for racing.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use 'breed' to talk about groups of people, for example, *'He is a different breed of race.'* This sounds rude or wrong in modern English. Use 'type of person' or 'kind of person' instead. Also, learners may confuse the spelling with 'bread' (food); 'breed' has a long /iː/ sound.
Meaning
Type of animal or plant
Collocations
dog breed
|breed of dog
|horse breed
|rare breed
|new breed
|traditional breed
Synonyms
type (Very general word; does not suggest controlled mating or genetics the way 'breed' often does.)
|
variety (Often used for plants and sometimes animals; slightly more technical or agricultural than 'type'.)
Antonyms
mongrel (Refers to an animal, especially a dog, that is not a specific breed but a mix of many; often less neutral in tone.)
Themes
animals
|biology
|daily life
|nature
|science
Definition
A kind of animal, or sometimes plant, that humans keep and grow so that it has special, shared features.
A particular type of animal, or sometimes plant, that has been developed and maintained by humans so that its members share specific inherited characteristics.
VERB
B2
2
Usage pattern:
[animals] breed [adverb/preposition]
Rabbits can breed very quickly if they are not controlled.
A nyulak nagyon gyorsan elszaporodhatnak, ha nem tartják őket kordában.
These fish only breed in warm, shallow water.
Ezek a halak csak meleg, sekély vízben ívnak.
The birds breed on the cliffs during the summer months.
If the animals breed too often, it can damage their health.
Mosquitoes breed wherever there is standing water.
Learner examples
The cows breed in the spring.
A tehenek tavasszal szaporodnak.
These birds breed near the lake.
Ezek a madarak a tó közelében költenek.
In warm countries, insects can breed all year.
The fish do not breed in cold water.
Too many rats can breed in the city.
Common mistake:
Using 'breed' for people (*'They bred last year and had a baby'*) sounds strange or offensive; use 'have children' or 'have a baby' for humans. Learners may also confuse this sense with the transitive sense 'to breed animals' (to keep and control them).
Meaning
For animals to reproduce
Collocations
breed quickly
|breed rapidly
|breed in captivity
|breed successfully
|breed seasonally
|breed freely
Synonyms
reproduce (More formal and scientific, used for both animals and plants.)
Antonyms
die out (Describes a group or species that stops breeding and disappears.)
Themes
animals
|biology
|nature
Definition
When animals have sex and produce babies.
When animals mate and produce young.
VERB
B2
3
Usage pattern:
[someone] breeds [animals/plants] for [purpose]
They breed horses for racing on their farm.
A farmjukon versenylovakat tenyésztenek.
The company breeds chickens that grow quickly for meat production.
A cég hústermelésre gyors növekedésű csirkéket tenyészt.
She has been breeding rare orchids for over ten years.
Farmers in this region breed cattle that can survive in very dry conditions.
The zoo successfully breeds endangered pandas in captivity.
Learner examples
My uncle breeds dogs at his home.
A nagybátyám otthon kutyákat tenyészt.
They breed cows for milk on this farm.
Ezen a farmon tejtermelésre tenyésztenek teheneket.
The zoo breeds tigers to help save them.
She wants to breed roses with a strong smell.
Some people breed birds and sell the babies.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *'grow animals'* instead of 'breed animals'. We usually 'grow' plants and 'breed' or 'raise' animals. Also, do not say *'I breed a dog'* if you just keep it as a pet; 'breed' suggests planning and controlling how animals mate.
Meaning
Keep animals/plants for offspring
Collocations
breed horses
|breed dogs
|breed cattle
|breed chickens
|breed plants
|breed for meat
Synonyms
rear (Focuses on raising animals rather than choosing which ones mate; less about genetics.)
|
raise (More general; means to take care of animals as they grow, not specifically for selective qualities.)
Antonyms
neuter (Means to make an animal unable to breed; it prevents the breeding process.)
Themes
animals
|agriculture
|business
|science
|nature
Definition
To keep animals or plants and let them have babies so the babies have special, wanted features.
To keep and mate animals, or sometimes plants, in a controlled way so that their young have particular desired qualities.
NOUN
B2
4
Usage pattern:
a [adjective] breed of [person/thing]
She's a new breed of leader: open, honest, and very online.
Ő új típusú vezető: nyitott, őszinte, és nagyon otthon van az online világban.
These young entrepreneurs are a different breed from their parents.
Ezek a fiatal vállalkozók egészen más típusúak, mint a szüleik.
Print journalists are becoming a dying breed.
Volunteers like him are a rare breed these days.
This software is a completely new breed of productivity tool.
Learner examples
He is a different breed of teacher.
Ő másfajta tanár.
Young workers today are a new breed.
A mai fiatal munkavállalók új típust képviselnek.
Good listeners are a rare breed.
Old bookshops are a dying breed in my city.
This phone is a new breed of device.
Common mistake:
Using this sense directly about nationality, race, or ethnicity can sound rude or offensive, for example, *'They are a strange breed of people.'* It is safer to use it for roles, jobs, or styles, such as 'a new breed of manager' or 'a rare breed of artist'.
Meaning
Kind of person or thing
Collocations
a new breed of
|a different breed of
|a rare breed
|a dying breed
|a special breed
Synonyms
kind (Very general; does not suggest the strong difference or special nature that 'breed' can imply.)
|
type (Neutral and common; 'breed' can sound a bit more vivid or emotional in this figurative use.)
Antonyms
mainstream (Refers to the usual or normal type, as opposed to a special or different 'breed' of person or thing.)
Themes
people
|society
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A kind of person or thing that is special or different in some clear way.
A type of person or thing that has particular, often unusual, qualities that distinguish it from others.
VERB
C1
5
Usage pattern:
[situation] breeds [problem/feeling]
Long waiting times at the clinic breed frustration among patients.
A klinikán a hosszú várakozási idők frusztrációt szülnek a betegekben.
Poverty can breed crime if people feel they have no options.
A szegénység bűnözést szülhet, ha az emberek úgy érzik, nincs más választásuk.
Keeping secrets like this will only breed distrust in the team.
Unfair rules breed anger and protest.
Online hate speech can breed real-world violence.
Learner examples
Lies breed distrust in a relationship.
A hazugság bizalmatlanságot szül egy kapcsolatban.
Lack of sleep can breed many problems.
Az alváshiány sok problémát okozhat.
Unclear rules breed confusion at work.
Heavy traffic breeds stress for drivers.
Unfair treatment breeds anger in people.
Common mistake:
Learners may try to use 'breed' with positive results, for example, *'His kindness bred happiness.'* While possible, this is rare; 'breed' is usually used for negative things like hate, fear, or violence. For positive ideas, words like 'create', 'build', or 'encourage' are more natural.
Meaning
Cause something to develop
Collocations
breed resentment
|breed distrust
|breed violence
|breed crime
|breed hatred
|breed conflict
Synonyms
cause (More general and common; 'breed' suggests the cause allows something to grow over time.)
|
foster (Often used in more formal contexts; can be positive or negative, while 'breed' is usually negative.)
Antonyms
prevent (Means to stop something from starting or developing, which is the opposite of breeding it.)
Themes
society
|emotions
|crime
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To make a problem, feeling, or situation grow or start, usually something bad.
To cause something, especially something bad, to grow or develop over time.
C1
6
Usage pattern:
[someone/something] is bred [prepositional phrase]
I was born and bred in London.
Londonban születtem és nevelkedtem.
These tigers were bred in captivity, not taken from the wild.
Ezek a tigrisek fogságban születtek és nevelkedtek, nem a vadonból hozták őket.
He was bred in a strict religious household.
The dogs are bred in a calm environment so they are less nervous.
She is city-bred and hates the quiet of the countryside.
Learner examples
I was born and bred in this town.
Ebben a városban születtem és nevelkedtem.
The lions were bred in captivity at the zoo.
Az oroszlánok az állatkertben, fogságban születtek és nevelkedtek.
He was bred in a rich family.
These dogs are bred in small rooms.
She is city-bred and loves big crowds.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes try to use this sense in active sentences like *'Her parents bred her well.'* This sounds strange; English normally uses the passive form: 'She was well bred' or the fixed expression 'born and bred'. For animals in zoos, 'bred in captivity' is much more natural than *'they bred them in captivity'* if you focus on the animals' background.
Meaning
Be raised in place or way
Collocations
born and bred
|bred in captivity
|city-bred
|country-bred
|college-bred
Synonyms
raise (More common word for bringing up children or animals; does not carry the same idea of background and style as 'born and bred'.)
|
bring up (Everyday phrasal verb for how someone is cared for and taught as a child.)
Antonyms
neglect (Means to fail to care for or bring someone up properly, opposite to being carefully bred or brought up.)
Themes
people
|animals
|education
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Used in the passive to say where or how someone or an animal grew up or was trained.
Used in the passive, to describe how or where a person or animal was brought up, educated, or kept.
Grammar
Dictionary form
breed
IPA
GB/bɹˈid/
US/bɹˈid/
Syllables & stress
breed (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (breed)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: breed
- Plural: breeds
Verb
- Base: breed
- 3rd Person Singular: breeds
- Present Participle: breeding
- Past: bred
- Past Participle: bred
Word family
Forms
breeds
noun
breeding
verb
bred
verb
Core family
breeder
noun
Related words
crossbreed
verb
purebred
adjective
Advanced or less common
interbreed
verb
inbreeding
noun
inbred
adjective
Highlights
- Irregular past: bred Verb
- Irregular past participle: bred Verb
Expressions
a different breed of
2/ə dˈɪfɹənt bɹˈid əv/
fixed phrase
Clearly different kind of person/thing
A kind of person or thing that is very different from the usual kind.
Examples
- Emergency room doctors are a different breed of medical professional.
- These young activists are a different breed of leader.
- Long-distance runners are a different breed of athlete.
a dying breed
4/ə dˈaɪɪŋ bɹˈid/
idiom
Type that is becoming rare
A kind of person or thing that is becoming less common and may soon not exist anymore.
Examples
- Small family-owned shops are a dying breed in this city.
- Journalists willing to travel to war zones are a dying breed.
- He is one of the last of a dying breed of craftsmen.
a new breed of
3/ə njˈu bɹˈid əv/
fixed phrase
Modern type with new qualities
A new kind of person or thing that is different from older types in a clear way.
Examples
- A new breed of politician is using social media to reach voters.
- The company represents a new breed of bank that works fully online.
- We are seeing a new breed of student who expects flexible learning.
be bred to
8/bˈi bɹˈɛd tə/
fixed phrase
Raised or selected for a purpose
Used to say that an animal, or sometimes a person, was raised or trained for a special job or purpose.
Examples
- These dogs are bred to guard sheep.
- Racing horses are bred to run fast.
- He was bred to take over the family business.
born and bred
1/bˈɔɹn ˈænd bɹˈɛd/
idiom
Born and raised in a place
Used to say that someone was both born in a place and grew up there.
Examples
- I'm a New Yorker, born and bred.
- She was born and bred in a small village by the sea.
- They are city people, born and bred.
breed in captivity
10/bɹˈid ˈɪn kæptˈɪvəti/
fixed phrase
technical
Make animals reproduce in captivity
To keep animals in a place like a zoo or farm and help them have babies there, not in the wild.
Examples
- Zoos are trying to breed pandas in captivity to save the species.
- Some animals will not breed in captivity and must be left in the wild.
- They have successfully bred several rare birds in captivity.
breeding ground for
5/bɹˈidɪŋ ɡɹˈaʊnd fɚ/
fixed phrase
Place where something develops
A place, situation, or group where something, usually bad, can easily grow and become stronger.
Examples
- Overcrowded prisons can be a breeding ground for violence.
- Dirty water is a breeding ground for disease.
- Social media can be a breeding ground for misinformation.
mixed-breed dog
7/mˈɪkst bɹˈid dˈɔɡ/
fixed phrase
Dog with parents of different breeds
A dog that is not one official breed, but has parents from different breeds.
Examples
- They adopted a mixed-breed dog from the shelter.
- Mixed-breed dogs can be very healthy and friendly.
- He prefers mixed-breed dogs to purebred ones.
selectively breed
9/səlˈɛktɪvli bɹˈid/
fixed phrase
technical
Control which animals/plants reproduce
To carefully choose which animals or plants can have babies, so the babies have certain wanted features.
Examples
- Farmers selectively breed cows to produce more milk.
- Scientists are selectively breeding plants that can survive with less water.
- They selectively breed dogs for good temperaments.
breed like rabbits
6/bɹˈid lˈaɪk ɹˈæbɪts/
idiom
informal
Have babies very quickly
To have many babies very quickly, or to increase in number very fast.
Examples
- They seem to be breeding like rabbits; they already have five kids.
- Without proper control, the animals would breed like rabbits.
- The animals bred like rabbits after the new food was introduced.
- He jokes that his relatives breed like rabbits and there is always a new baby in the family.
- Some people worry that humans are breeding like rabbits and using too many resources.
- If left unchecked, these insects will breed like rabbits.