Inbreeding - Definitions from Dictionary.com

6 results for: Inbreeding

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

in·breed·ing

Audio Help [in-bree-ding] Pronunciation Key

–noun Biology.

the mating of closely related individuals, as cousins, sire-daughter, brother-sister, or self-fertilized plants, which tends to increase the number of individuals that are homozygous for a trait and therefore increases the appearance of recessive traits.

[Origin: 1835–45; inbreed + -ing¹

]

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Inbreeding

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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

in·breed

Audio Help [in-breed, in-breed] Pronunciation Key verb, -bred, -breed·ing.

–verb (used with object)

1.	to breed (individuals of a closely related group) repeatedly.

2.	to breed within; engender.

–verb (used without object)

3.	to engage in or undergo inbreeding.

[Origin: 1590–1600; in-¹ + breed

]

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

in·breed Audio Help (ĭn'brēd') Pronunciation Key
tr.v. in·bred (-brěd'), in·breed·ing, in·breeds

To breed by the continued mating of closely related individuals, especially to preserve desirable traits in a stock.
To breed or develop within; engender.

in'breed'er n.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

in·breed·ing Audio Help (ĭn'brē'dĭng) Pronunciation Key
n.

The breeding of related individuals within an isolated or a closed group of organisms or people.
The continued breeding of closely related individuals so as to preserve desirable traits in a stock.

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WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

inbreeding
noun
the act of mating closely related individuals

The American Heritage Science Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

inbreeding Audio Help (ĭn'brē'dĭng) Pronunciation Key
The breeding or mating of related individuals within an isolated or closed group of organisms or people. Inbreeding can result in inbreeding depression. However, in agriculture and animal husbandry, the continued breeding of closely related individuals can help to preserve desirable traits in a stock.

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