ENGLISH
REFERENCE

domesticated

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //dəˈmɛstəˌkeɪtəd// UK //dəmˈɛstɪkˌeɪtɪd// do·mes·ti·cat·ed

adj. describes an animal or plant that has been trained or changed by humans to live with them or be useful for work. It is the opposite of being wild.

adj. adapted over many generations from a wild state to a life in close association with humans. Often used to describe species that have undergone genetic or behavioural changes through selective breeding.


SIMPLE

Dogs were the first domesticated animals.

CONTEXTUAL

The farm has several domesticated species, including sheep and goats, which provide wool and milk for the local community.

COMPLEX

While some animals are easily tamed within a single lifetime, a truly domesticated species has undergone centuries of selective breeding to ensure its temperament and biology suit human needs.

Synonyms
Origin

From domesticate + -ed.

Usage

Typically used as a participial adjective; can appear both before a noun or after a linking verb.

Pitfall

The lion is a domesticated animal.The lion is a tame animal.Learners confuse 'domesticated' (a species-wide genetic change) with 'tame' (an individual wild animal that has been trained not to be dangerous).

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