bred

bred · verb

imported

Definitions

verb

  1. 1.

    Past tense and past participle of "breed"; caused animals to reproduce.

  2. 2.

    Raised or reared animals or plants.

  3. 3.

    Brought up or raised in a particular environment.

  4. 4.

    Produced or caused to develop.

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    born and bred — native to a place; raised there from birth
  • •
    ill-bred — having bad manners; poorly raised
  • •
    well-bred — having good manners; properly raised
  • •
    bred in the bone — deeply ingrained

Related words

See also: breed, breeding, reared
Synonyms: produced, raised, reared

Etymology

Past tense and past participle of "breed," from Old English "brēdan" meaning to nourish, keep warm, or rear, from Proto-Germanic "*brōdijaną" related to "brood."