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Glite Dictionary
breed line

breed line

1 7.7
A group of animals or plants from the same family that people raise to keep certain traits
  • noun
  • /brid laɪn/
  • Specialized
: línea de cría
  • Years of careful selection improved the breed line for faster racehorses.

Examples

  • The kennel specializes in maintaining a pure breed line of rare terriers.

  • Many farmers prefer to use a specific breed line for better yields.

  • Genetic testing confirmed the breed line traces back several generations.

  • Years of careful selection improved the breed line for faster racehorses.

  • The breed line of the racehorses is well documented.

  • The kennel specializes in maintaining a pure breed line of rare terriers.

  • Many farmers prefer to use a specific breed line for better yields.

Synonyms

line
vsbreed line
256 5.6

A series of related people or events over time

is narrower, focusing on offspring from close genetic matings rather than any succession
bloodline
vsbreed line
52 4.8

A family line of people or animals related by birth

focuses on offspring from matings between closely related individuals in animals and plants
family line
vsbreed line
7 3.2

A group of people who are related by birth over many generations

is about offspring from close genetic matings in animals and plants rather than human ancestry
pedigree
vsbreed line
  • Specialized
5 5.4

A record of an animal's ancestors that proves it is purebred

focuses on offspring from closely related genetic matings rather than on documentary proof
line of descent
vsbreed line
1 3.8

The people in a family who are related by blood across generations

focuses on offspring from closely related genetic matings rather than broad ancestry

How Related

inbreeding
  • Specialized
12 6.9
breed line
  • Specialized
1 7.7
outcrossing
  • Specialized
1 8.2

Surface Forms

breed line singular
breed lines plural

Morphology

breed + line

The meaning 'a line of offspring or lineage within a particular breed' can be directly inferred from 'breed' (a group of animals with shared bred characteristics) + 'line' (a familial lineage). This composition follows a common noun+noun pattern describing lineage and is cross-linguistically transparent, so a B1 learner who knows both words would readily understand it.

Etymology

Breed line paints a simple picture: breeders keeping animals that all look alike — a neat line of similar puppies or foals from the same breed. So a breed line is a family group of animals that come from parents who are often closely related, meaning the 'offspring' share the same genes and traits.