Domesticated
/dəˈmɛstɪˌkeɪtɪd/
Definitions
2 meaningsTo tame an animal and keep it as a pet or on a farm; to adapt something for human use.
/dəˈmɛstɪˌkeɪt/
To tame (an animal) and keep it as a pet or on a farm.
Humans domesticated dogs from wolves thousands of years ago.
💡 Simply: Imagine you have a wild animal, like a wolf. Domesticating it means you teach it to live with you and make it friendly, like a dog! We also domesticate plants like wheat to grow them for food.
👶 For kids: Making a wild animal friendly and able to live with people, like a dog or a cat.
More Examples
The process of domesticating wild plants took many generations.
They domesticated rabbits for their meat and fur.
How It's Used
"Farmers domesticated wild grains thousands of years ago."
"The process of domesticating foxes involved selective breeding."
Adapted to life in association with humans; (of animals) tamed and kept by humans as pets or for work or food.
/dəˈmɛstɪˌkeɪtɪd/
Tamed and kept as a pet or on a farm; adapted to human living.
The domesticated cat purred contentedly on the couch.
💡 Simply: Something is domesticated if it's been tamed and lives with humans. Like a dog or a cat is a domesticated animal. Think of them living inside and with us, not out in the wild!
👶 For kids: Something that is not wild anymore and lives with people. Like a dog or a cat!
More Examples
Horses are domesticated animals that help people with many tasks.
Domesticated animals are often used for transportation and work.
How It's Used
"Domesticated animals have undergone genetic changes through selective breeding."
"The horse is a domesticated animal used for transportation and work."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
From Middle English domestik (of a household), from Old French domestique, from Latin domesticus, from domus (house). The verb 'domesticate' emerged later, in the 17th century.
Historically, the term has been applied to both animals and plants, reflecting the long-term relationship between humans and other species. References to domesticated animals appear from the earliest agricultural texts.
Memory tip
Think of the word "home". Domesticated animals feel at home with humans.
Word Origin
"house"