Meanings
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1
noun
a horse of the Thoroughbred breed, developed chiefly for racing from English mares and imported Arabian, Barb, and Turkoman stallions
The thoroughbred accelerated strongly in the final stretch of the race.
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2
adj
bred from parents of a recognized pure breed and having a recorded pedigree
The farm raises thoroughbred horses for racing.
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3
adj
dated and potentially offensive when applied to people: regarded as having unmixed ancestry or as fully representative of a group
The nineteenth-century traveler described the guide as a thoroughbred member of his community.
Thesaurus
Etymology
Formed from thorough, formerly also meaning 'complete,' + bred, the past participle of breed. The equine term became established in the eighteenth century for horses descended from the recognized foundation stock of the English racing breed.