breeder

/'bri:də/

Thân thiện

A dog breeder shows a family a litter of golden retriever puppies.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A person who breeds animals: An individual who intentionally mates and raises animals, typically to produce offspring with specific, desirable characteristics. This often involves selective breeding for traits like appearance, temperament, or performance.
   • (In physics, dated) A breeder reactor: A type of nuclear reactor that produces more fissile material than it consumes. (Note: This meaning is highly technical and primarily found in historical or scientific contexts. The primary, everyday meaning is related to animal husbandry.)

Usage and Examples

• Noun (Person who breeds animals):
  • She is a dog breeder who specializes in golden retrievers.
  • The horse breeder was very proud of the champion stallion.
  • Responsible breeders always prioritize the health of their animals.

Advanced Usage

• "Backyard breeder": A usually pejorative term for an unregulated or amateur animal breeder who may not follow best practices for animal health and welfare.
  • Animal shelters often warn against buying pets from backyard breeders.
• The term can be used in compound nouns specifying the type of animal: .

Variants and Related Words

• Breed (verb): To produce offspring by mating; to raise animals or plants.
• Breeding (noun): The activity or process of producing animals or plants by mating.
  • The breeding of this species in captivity is difficult.
• Breeder reactor (noun): The full term for the nuclear reactor type.

Synonyms

• Animal husbandman: A person involved in the care and breeding of livestock. (More formal)
• Raiser: One who raises animals. (More general)
• Stockman: A person who raises livestock.

Notes on Meaning

• The core meaning of "breeder" is a person engaged in the controlled propagation of animals. It implies a purposeful activity, often for commercial, hobby, or preservation purposes.
• In modern informal contexts (particularly within LGBTQ+ communities), "breeder" is sometimes used as a slang term, often derogatory or ironic, to refer to heterosexuals or heterosexual parents. This usage is highly colloquial and context-dependent, and is not the standard dictionary definition.

Học thuật

Noun

1. a person who breeds animals

Từ đồng nghĩa

• stock breeder