interbreeding

IPA/ˌɪn.təˈbriː.dɪŋ/
IPA/ˌɪn.t̬ɚˈbriː.dɪŋ/

interbreeding — noun

1. the mating of plants or animals that belong to different breeds, species, or gro

1.nounC1
Definition

the mating of plants or animals that belong to different breeds, species, or groups, so their young carry a mix of features from both.

Example

Interbreeding between wolves and farm dogs has produced many gentle new pets.

interbreeding between [group A] and [group B]

After years of careful interbreeding, Hao developed a sweeter kind of apple.

Common collocations
  • prevent interbreeding
  • encourage interbreeding
  • widespread interbreeding
Synonyms
  • crossbreeding

    usually a deliberate cross between two set breeds, common in farming and pet breeding

  • hybridization

    more technical; stresses producing hybrid offspring, often across different species

  • outbreeding

    breeding between unrelated members of a group; opposite of inbreeding, but less common in everyday speech

Antonyms
  • inbreeding

    breeding within one closely related family or group

Grammar Patterns

interbreeding between + two groups

interbreeding with + group

Usage Note

Uncountable; usually followed by between, among, or with to name the groups involved (interbreeding between A and B). It takes no 'a/an' and is not used in the plural.

Common Mistakes

Inbreeding between lions and tigers can create new animals.
Interbreeding between lions and tigers can create new animals.
'inbreeding' is mating within one closely related group; 'interbreeding' is between different groups or species.
The farm saw an interbreeding last spring.
The farm saw a lot of interbreeding last spring.
'interbreeding' is uncountable, so it takes no 'an' and has no plural form.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words describe how living things reproduce across or within groups, but they differ in scope and tone. Interbreeding is the broadest: it covers any mating between different breeds, groups, or even species, and is common in both science and everyday talk about animals. Crossbreeding is usually deliberate and practical — a farmer or pet breeder mates two set breeds to get useful young, as with a Labrador and a poodle. Hybridization is the most technical term and stresses the result, the hybrid, often when two species mix. Inbreeding is the near-opposite: mating within one closely related family, which can pass on weaknesses. Conservationists may encourage interbreeding between separated herds, while warning that long-term inbreeding makes a small population weaker.

interbreeding ↗crossbreeding ↗hybridizationinbreeding ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • interbreeding population
  • rate of interbreeding
  • risk of interbreeding

Phrases

  • prevent interbreeding
  • encourage interbreeding
  • allow interbreeding

Prepositions

  • interbreeding between
  • interbreeding among
  • interbreeding with

Etymology

LatinOld EnglishEnglish

Formed in English by joining the prefix inter-, meaning 'between' or 'among' (from Latin), to the verb 'breed' (from Old English brēdan, 'to bring up young'). The noun interbreeding is the -ing form and names the act of two different breeds, species, or groups breeding together. It came into common use in the 1800s as scientists studied how plants and animals mix.

First known use

1859

1859, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense