crossbreed
KROSS-breed
/ˈkrɒsbriːd/
To produce an animal or plant by mating or hybridizing two different species, breeds, or varieties.
This is the 'old school' way of genetic change, relying on natural reproduction rather than lab-based gene editing.
The story behind the word. A simple English compound. 'Cross' implies the intersection of two different lines, and 'breed' comes from the Old English 'bredan,' meaning to nourish or keep warm (like a bird on a nest).
Word relationships
- hybridize: Hybridize is the more formal, scientific term; crossbreed is more common in everyday language.
- purebreed: An organism that is the result of many generations of mating within the same breed or variety.
Commonly confused with
- inbreed: Inbreeding is mating within a close family or limited group; crossbreeding is mating between different groups.
Word family
- crossbreeding (noun): The process of producing a crossbreed.
Collocations
- crossbreed varieties
- successful crossbreed
- crossbreed animals
Example sentences
- "The Labradoodle was created when breeders decided to crossbreed a Labrador Retriever with a Poodle." History of dog breeding.
- "Farmers have used the ability to crossbreed plants for centuries to create hardier versions of wheat." Traditional farming techniques.
Memory hook
Two different lines 'cross' to make a new 'breed'. Mixing the lines.
When not to use
Do not use for lab-based transgenic modification where genes are inserted without mating.
Fun facts
- Mules are a famous crossbreed between a male donkey and a female horse.
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