domesticate

[ duh-mes-ti-keyt ]

verb (used with object)

, do·mes·ti·cat·ed, do·mes·ti·cat·ing.

1. to convert (animals, plants, etc.) to domestic uses; tame.
2. to tame (an animal), especially by generations of breeding, to live in close association with human beings as a pet or work animal and usually creating a dependency so that the animal loses its ability to live in the wild.
3. to adapt (a plant) so as to be cultivated by and beneficial to human beings.
4. to accustom to household life or affairs.
5. to take (something foreign, unfamiliar, etc.) for one's own use or purposes; adopt.
6. to make more ordinary, familiar, acceptable, or the like:

   to domesticate radical ideas.

verb (used without object)

, do·mes·ti·cat·ed, do·mes·ti·cat·ing.

1. to be domestic.

domesticate

/ dəˈmɛstɪˌsaɪz; dəˈmɛstɪˌkeɪt /

verb

1. to bring or keep (wild animals or plants) under control or cultivation
2. to accustom to home life
3. to adapt to an environment

   to domesticate foreign trees

Derived Forms

• doˌmestiˈcation, noun
• doˈmestiˌcator, noun
• doˈmesticable, adjective
• doˈmesticative, adjective

Other Words From

• do·mes·ti·ca·ble [d, uh, -, mes, -ti-k, uh, -b, uh, l], adjective
• do·mes·ti·ca·tion [d, uh, -mes-ti-, key, -sh, uh, n], noun
• do·mes·ti·ca·tive adjective
• do·mes·ti·ca·tor noun
• non·do·mes·ti·cat·ed adjective
• non·do·mes·ti·cat·ing adjective
• o·ver·do·mes·ti·cate verb (used with object) overdomesticated overdomesticating
• un·do·mes·ti·ca·ble adjective
• un·do·mes·ti·cat·ed adjective
• well-do·mes·ti·cat·ed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of domesticate¹

First recorded in 1635–45; from Medieval Latin domesticātus (past participle of domesticāre ), equivalent to domestic- domestic + -ātus -ate ¹

Example Sentences

These results add to a growing understanding among anthropologists that Indigenous people in the region managed so-called forest gardens that fed large numbers of people without domesticated crops.

From Science Magazine

A local wildlife sanctuary advised him that feeding the animal was allowed as long as he didn't domesticate her.

From BBC

The hybrid lager yeast was domesticated hundreds of years ago and has since been optimized for brewing under cold conditions.

From Salon

As scenes of protesters storming her official residence and looting everything from velvet chairs to domesticated animals were broadcast around the world, Mr Arefin was witnessing something else.

From BBC

“It’s definitely a domesticated rabbit. Whether it was cared for as a pet or kept as an agricultural animal or a novelty, it’s hard to say. The animal was very grumpy about handling.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• naturalize