thoroughbred

American  

[thur-oh-bred, -uh-bred, thuhr-] / ˈθɜr oʊˌbrɛd, -əˌbrɛd, ˈθʌr- /

adjective

1. of pure or unmixed breed, stock, or lineage, as a horse or other animal; bred from the purest and best blood.

2. (sometimes initial capital letter) of or relating to the Thoroughbred breed of horses.

3. (of a person) having good breeding or education.

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noun

1. (initial capital letter) one of a breed of horses, to which all racehorses belong, originally developed in England by crossing Arabian stallions with European mares.

2. a thoroughbred animal.

3. a well-bred or well-educated person.

thoroughbred ¹ British  

/ ˈθʌrəˌbrɛd /

adjective

1. purebred

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noun

1. a pedigree animal; purebred

2. a person regarded as being of good breeding

Thoroughbred ² British  

/ ˈθʌrəˌbrɛd /

noun

1. a British breed of horse the ancestry of which can be traced to English mares and Arab sires; most often used as a racehorse

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Other Word Forms

• thoroughbredness noun

Etymology

Origin of thoroughbred

First recorded in 1695–1705; thorough + bred

Example Sentences

Barry Hills: British thoroughbred horse trainer had 3,181 winners in Britain and won four of the five British Classics at least once.

From BBC

Older, and with questions about the make-up of their team, the hosts will find it harder to absorb the absence of two thoroughbred fast bowlers.

From BBC

It was an outgrowth of playing golf with some friends who happened to own thoroughbreds.

From Los Angeles Times

In a chaotic last half hour, Carse charged down the Lord's slope like a thoroughbred that had unseated its rider.

From BBC

John C. Harris, California horse-racing mogul, had a particular love for the thoroughbred breeding and racing sector of his company, Harris Farms.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• graded