1. The
act or process of generating or bearing.
2. The
raising or improving of any
kind of
domestic animals; as, farmers must
pay attention to breeding.
3. Nurture; education;
formation of manners. "She had her
breeding at my father's charge." (Shak)
4. Deportment or
behavior in the
outside offices and decorums of
social life; manners;
knowledge of, or
training in, the ceremonies, or polite observances of society. "Delicacy of breeding, or that polite
deference and
respect which civility obliges us
either to
express or counterfeit towards the
persons with whom we converse." (Hume)
5. Descent; pedigree; extraction. "Honest gentlemen, I
know not your breeding." (Shak) Close breeding, In and in breeding,
breeding from a
male and
female from the
same parentage. Cross breeding,
breeding from a
male and
female of various lineage. Good breeding, politeness; genteel deportment.
Synonym: Education, instruction, nurture, training, manners. See Education.
Source: Websters Vocabulary