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Definition of breeding noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

breeding

noun
 
/ˈbriːdɪŋ/
 
/ˈbriːdɪŋ/
[uncountable]
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  1. the keeping of animals in order to breed (= produce young) from them
    • the breeding of horses
    • a breeding programme
    Extra Examples
    • Certain characteristics can be developed through selective breeding.
    • a campaign to save the condor by captive breeding
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • animal
    • horse
    • livestock
    • …
    breeding + noun
    • season
    • stock
    • programme/​program
    • …
    See full entry
  2. the producing of young animals, plants, etc.
    • the breeding season
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • animal
    • horse
    • livestock
    • …
    breeding + noun
    • season
    • stock
    • programme/​program
    • …
    See full entry
  3. the family or social background that is thought to result in good manners
    • a sign of good breeding
    Extra Examples
    • ‘They may have money, but they have no breeding,’ he said snobbishly
    • The young man clearly has breeding.
    • a woman of impeccable breeding
    Topics Family and relationshipsc2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • good
    verb + breeding
    • have
    See full entry
See breeding in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee breeding in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
Check pronunciation: breeding

Nearby words

dizzy
adjective
 
 
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