Library / English Dictionary

DOMESTICATE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Make fit for cultivation, domestic life, and service to humans

Example:

The wolf was tamed and evolved into the house dog

Synonyms:

domesticate; tame

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "domesticate" is one way to...):

accommodate; adapt (make fit for, or change to suit a new purpose)

Verb group:

domesticate; domesticise; domesticize; reclaim; tame (overcome the wildness of; make docile and tractable)

Domain category:

animal; animate being; beast; brute; creature; fauna (a living organism characterized by voluntary movement)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 2

Meaning:

Overcome the wildness of; make docile and tractable

Example:

reclaim falcons

Synonyms:

domesticate; domesticise; domesticize; reclaim; tame

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "domesticate" is one way to...):

alter; change; modify (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)

Verb group:

domesticate; tame (make fit for cultivation, domestic life, and service to humans)

Domain category:

animal; animate being; beast; brute; creature; fauna (a living organism characterized by voluntary movement)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "domesticate"):

break; break in (make submissive, obedient, or useful)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Sense 3

Meaning:

Adapt (a wild plant or unclaimed land) to the environment

Example:

tame the soil

Synonyms:

cultivate; domesticate; naturalise; naturalize; tame

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "domesticate" is one way to...):

accommodate; adapt (make fit for, or change to suit a new purpose)

Domain category:

flora; plant; plant life ((botany) a living organism lacking the power of locomotion)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Credits

 Context examples: 

The domesticated guinea pig, Cavia porcellus.

(Guinea Pig, NCI Thesaurus)

The most common species is Cavia porcellus which is the domesticated guinea pig used for pets and biomedical research.

(Guinea Pig, NLM, Medical Subject Headings)

The domesticated ungulates, Bos primigenius taurus and Bos primigenius indicus.

(Cow, NCI Thesaurus/CDISC)

Perhaps you are not so much aware as I am of the mischief that may, of the unpleasantness that must arise from a young man's being received in this manner: domesticated among us; authorised to come at all hours, and placed suddenly on a footing which must do away all restraints.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

Any of various hollow-horned, bearded ruminant mammals of the genus Capra, originally of mountainous areas of the Old World, especially any of the domesticated forms of C. hircus, raised for wool, milk, and meat.

(Goat, NCI Thesaurus)

“Though harrowing to myself to mention, the alienation of Mr. Micawber (formerly so domesticated) from his wife and family, is the cause of my addressing my unhappy appeal to Mr. Traddles, and soliciting his best indulgence. Mr. T. can form no adequate idea of the change in Mr. Micawber's conduct, of his wildness, of his violence. It has gradually augmented, until it assumes the appearance of aberration of intellect. Scarcely a day passes, I assure Mr. Traddles, on which some paroxysm does not take place. Mr. T. will not require me to depict my feelings, when I inform him that I have become accustomed to hear Mr. Micawber assert that he has sold himself to the D. Mystery and secrecy have long been his principal characteristic, have long replaced unlimited confidence. The slightest provocation, even being asked if there is anything he would prefer for dinner, causes him to express a wish for a separation. Last night, on being childishly solicited for twopence, to buy “lemon-stunners”—a local sweetmeat—he presented an oyster-knife at the twins!

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

"Comparative genomics research is allowing us to find, recover and use those valuable traits to improve and protect our domesticated varieties."

(Harvesting genes to improve watermelons, National Science Foundation)

An international team of scientists report ancient Egyptians captured sacred ibises (Threskiornis aethiopicus) from the wild for use in ritual sacrifice rather than domesticating the birds.

(Ancient Egyptians collected wild ibis birds for sacrifice, says study, Wikinews)

It's a process similar to what happened tens of millions of years later with humans and domesticated crops and livestock.

(Researchers discover oldest evidence of 'farming' by insects, NSF)

These are essential traits of the wolf and the wild-dog when they have become domesticated, and these traits White Fang possessed in unusual measure.

(White Fang, by Jack London)