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Glite Dictionary
breed line

breed line

7.7
A group of animals or plants from the same family that people raise to keep certain traits
  • noun
  • /brid laɪn/
  • Specialized
translation icon : 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
198 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
57 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
pedigree
vsbreed line
  • Specialized
6 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
family line
vsbreed line
5 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
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
7.7
outcrossing
  • Specialized
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.