thoroughbred

[thur-oh-bred, -uh-bred, thuhr-]

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.

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

/ ˈθʌrəˌbrɛd /

adjective

1. purebred

noun

1. a pedigree animal; purebred

2. a person regarded as being of good breeding

Thoroughbred

²

/ 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

Other Word Forms

• thoroughbredness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of thoroughbred¹

First recorded in 1695–1705; thorough + bred

Example Sentences

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

“Wayne is one of the greatest competitors and most important figures in thoroughbred racing history,” said Mike Anderson, president of Churchill Downs racetrack in Kentucky, after the Lukas family announced the severity of his illness.

From Los Angeles Times

With such thoroughbred sporting credentials, Tyler is currently proving a big golf hit at Florida State University.

From BBC

While the Derby is the richest flat race in Britain, with a total purse of £1.5m, and described as the ultimate test of the thoroughbred, its popularity in recent times has been under pressure.

From BBC

Related Words

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