mating
/meɪt/ (bre, ipa) · [mˈetɪŋ] /meɪt/ (ame, ipa) · [mˈetɪŋ] /ˈmāt/ (ame, mw) · /ˈmeɪtɪŋ/ (bre, ipa) · [mˈetɪŋ] /ˈmeɪtɪŋ/ (ame, ipa)
mating — verb
- matingpresent simple I / you / we / they
- matings3rd person singular
- matinging-ing form
- matingedpast simple
1. if animals are mating, they join sexually so young can be produced; people can a
if animals are mating, they join sexually so young can be produced; people can also mate animals by pairing them for breeding
Wild foxes usually start mating at the end of winter.
animals mating seasonally in the wild
The breeder is mating the strongest ram with two healthy ewes.
pattern: mating [animal] with [animal]
Several butterflies were mating on the warm stone by noon.
Park workers kept the deer apart until the herd stopped mating.
- separate
used when animals are kept apart to stop reproduction
文法句型
animals mating in a season
mating one animal with another for breeding
用法筆記
Common both for animals acting on their own and for breeders pairing animals. Unlike noun/1, this sense describes the action in progress rather than the event as a named thing.
常見錯誤
mating — noun
1. sex between animals as part of producing young
sex between animals as part of producing young
The birds' mating becomes noisier just before sunrise in April.
animal behaviour during mating
Researchers filmed the mating of the frogs beside a forest pond.
pattern: mating of [animals]
The zoo delayed the move until the pandas' mating was over.
Signs asked visitors not to disturb seal mating on the beach.
- breeding
broader; can include the whole reproductive cycle, not only the sexual event
- copulation
more formal and scientific than mating
文法句型
mating of animals
mating season
用法筆記
Common in animal-care and scientific writing, especially in phrases like mating season or the mating of certain animals. Unlike verb/1, this sense names the reproductive event rather than the action being carried out.