THOROUGHBRED

Pronunciation (US):

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does thoroughbred mean? 

• THOROUGHBRED (noun)
  The noun THOROUGHBRED has 3 senses:

1. a well-bred person

2. a racehorse belonging to a breed that originated from a cross between Arabian stallions and English mares

3. a pedigreed animal of unmixed lineage; used especially of horses

  Familiarity information: THOROUGHBRED used as a noun is uncommon.

• THOROUGHBRED (adjective)
  The adjective THOROUGHBRED has 1 sense:

1. having a list of ancestors as proof of being a purebred animal

  Familiarity information: THOROUGHBRED used as an adjective is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• THOROUGHBRED (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A well-bred person

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Hypernyms ("thoroughbred" is a kind of...):

adult; grownup (a fully developed person from maturity onward)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A racehorse belonging to a breed that originated from a cross between Arabian stallions and English mares

Classified under:

Nouns denoting animals

Hypernyms ("thoroughbred" is a kind of...):

bangtail; race horse; racehorse (a horse bred for racing)

Instance hyponyms:

Sir Barton (thoroughbred that won the triple crown in 1919)

Gallant Fox (thoroughbred that won the triple crown in 1930)

Omaha (thoroughbred that won the triple crown in 1935)

War Admiral (thoroughbred that won the triple crown in 1937)

Whirlaway (thoroughbred that won the triple crown in 1941)

Count Fleet (thoroughbred that won the triple crown in 1943)

Assault (thoroughbred that won the triple crown in 1946)

Citation (thoroughbred that won the triple crown in 1948)

Secretariat (thoroughbred that won the triple crown in 1973)

Seattle Slew (thoroughbred that won the triple crown in 1977)

Affirmed (thoroughbred that won the triple crown in 1978)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A pedigreed animal of unmixed lineage; used especially of horses

Classified under:

Nouns denoting animals

Synonyms:

pureblood; purebred; thoroughbred

Hypernyms ("thoroughbred" is a kind of...):

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

• THOROUGHBRED (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Having a list of ancestors as proof of being a purebred animal

Synonyms:

pedigree; pedigreed; pureblood; pureblooded; thoroughbred

Similar:

purebred (bred for many generations from member of a recognized breed or strain)

 Context examples 

He stepped past and laid his hand upon the glossy neck of the thoroughbred.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The first time occurred when the master was trying to teach a spirited thoroughbred the method of opening and closing gates without the rider's dismounting.

(White Fang, by Jack London)