# sire

/ˈsaɪɝ/ (US) · /sˈaɪə/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/sire
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 3. to father offspring

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal · Technical

to be the father of a child or an animal.

For teachers: to beget or procreate as a father; to provide the male genetic material for offspring.

- The champion racehorse went on to sire many successful foals.
- Records indicate that the legendary bull managed to sire over fifty calves during his time at the research facility.

Usage: Usually transitive, taking the offspring as the direct object.

## Examples

- The knight bowed before his sire.
- The champion racehorse was a famous sire, known for passing his incredible speed to his many offspring.
- While the term is largely archaic in political contexts, it remains a standard technical term in pedigree documentation to identify the male lineage of a thoroughbred.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.