domesticate
/dəˈmestɪkeɪt/ (bre, ipa) · /dəˈmestɪkeɪt/ (ame, ipa) · /də-ˈme-sti-ˌkāt/ (ame, mw)
domesticate — verb
- domesticatepresent simple I / you / we / they
- domesticateshe / she / it
- domesticatedpast simple
- domesticating-ing form
1. to take wild plants and animals and gradually change them over many generations
to take wild plants and animals and gradually change them over many generations so that they can live alongside humans and serve as a source of food, labour, or companionship.
The early farmers learned to domesticate wild goats for their milk and meat.
Over thousands of years, humans domesticated wolves into the dogs we know today.
passive construction: domesticated [species] into [modern form]
Archaeologists found evidence that this grain was first domesticated in the Middle East.
Sirin's family has kept chickens for many years, using breeds first domesticated in ancient Asia.
The early farmers of the Yangtze region domesticated wild rice into a staple crop over many generations.
- wild
the opposite of domesticated; living in a natural state
文法句型
domesticate + noun phrase
be domesticated (by humans)
用法筆記
Subject is typically a human society or group acting over a long period, not a single individual. The object names a whole species or plant type, not an individual creature. Frequently appears in archaeology, biology, and agriculture writing.
常見錯誤
2. to teach a person the practical skills needed for running a home — such as cooki
to teach a person the practical skills needed for running a home — such as cooking, cleaning, or managing a household — or to help someone develop a liking for home life.
Defne joked that living with a roommate had domesticated her — she now cleans every weekend.
phrasal pattern: [experience] domesticated [person]
After years of living alone, Jason became surprisingly domesticated and even started baking bread.
phrasal pattern: become domesticated
After a life-skills course, the new students became domesticated and could cook and budget on their own.
Lien never thought she would become domesticated, yet her new dog kept her on a fixed daily routine.
- civilise
broader in meaning — making someone more refined overall, not just in home skills
- settle down
phrasal verb meaning to adopt a stable home life, but not focused on learning home skills
文法句型
domesticate + person
become domesticated
用法筆記
Often appears in the passive or as 'become domesticated' to describe personal change. Can carry a light or ironic tone, especially when referring to someone who unexpectedly enjoys home routines. This sense is far less common than the agricultural meaning.
常見錯誤
domesticate — noun
1. a species of animal or plant that humans have selectively bred and adapted over
a species of animal or plant that humans have selectively bred and adapted over generations to live in a human-controlled environment.
Dogs were one of the earliest domesticates, living alongside humans for over ten thousand years.
collocation: earliest domesticates
Wheat is a domesticate with larger grains that stay on the stalk, unlike its wild ancestor with tiny, loose seeds.
comparison: domesticate vs wild ancestor
Archaeologists determined that millet was a key early domesticate that spread from Africa to South Asia.
Chickens, cattle, and rice are all domesticates that transformed human civilisation.
- domesticated species
more transparent and common in non-technical writing; same meaning
- tamed species
less precise — 'tame' implies individual animals, not a genetically changed population
- wild species
a species that has not been altered by human selection
文法句型
the + [adjective] + domesticates
early/earliest domesticates
用法筆記
This is a technical noun used mainly in archaeology, anthropology, and biology. In everyday speech, people say 'domesticated animal' or 'domesticated plant' instead. The noun form is usually count and often appears with 'early', 'major', or 'ancient'.