◙ (pastandpast participle bred ) 1. [with obj.] cause (an animal) to produce offspring, especially in a controlled and organized way • 繁殖，产（仔），（通过人工交配）育种 »bitches may not be bred from more than once a year. 雌狗育种交配每年不可超过一次。 [no obj.] (an animals) mate and then produce offspring • 产仔，繁殖 »toads are said to return to the pond of their birth to breed. 据说癞蛤蟆会回到自己出生的池塘去交配繁殖。 develop (a kind of animal or plant) for a particular purpose or quality • （为某种目的而）培育（动、植物），育种 »these horses are bred for this sport. 这些马是专为这项运动而培育的。 rear and train (someone) to behave in a particular way to have certain qualities • 培养，养育 »Theodora had been beautifully bred. 西奥多拉被培养成了一个出色的人。 produce or lead to (something), typically over a period of time • 产生，惹起，酿成 »success had bred a certain arrogance. 成功滋生了傲慢。 [Physics] create (fissile material) by nuclear reaction • [物理] 增殖，再生（通过核反应产生可裂变物质） ◙ noun 1. a stock of animals or plants within a species having a distinctive appearance and typically having been developed by deliberate selection • （经人工培育的动﹑植物的）同一品种，种；属 a sort or kind of person or thing • （人或物的）类型，种类 »a new breed of entrepreneurs was brought into being. 新型的企业家出现了。
【IDIOMS】
◘ breed apart 1. a sort or kind of person that is very different from the norm • 不同寻常的人 »health-service staff are a breed apart with their dedication to duty. 保健服务行业从业人员以其忠于职守的态度而显得与众不同。 ◘ a dying breed 1. a sort or kind of person that is slowly disappearing • 正在消失的某一类人 »the country's dying breed of elder statesmen. 正在淡出人们视野的前辈政治家。 ◘ what's bred in the bone will come out in the flesh (或 blood) --› seebone
【语源】
1. Old English brēdan 'produce (offspring), bear (a child'), of Germanic origin; related to German brüten, also to brood