domesticate

/dəˈmɛstɪkeɪt/
verb
  1. To tame a wild animal and keep it as a pet or on a farm, so it becomes used to living with people.
    • Farmers domesticate cattle for milk, meat, and labor.
    • Humans began to domesticate wolves thousands of years ago, creating the first dogs.
    • It takes many generations to domesticate a wild species like the horse.
  2. To make something (like a plant) suitable for growing and being used by people.
    • Scientists are trying to domesticate new plants that can survive in dry climates.
    • Early farmers learned to domesticate wild wheat into the crops we eat today.
    • The process to domesticate a wild fruit can take centuries of selective planting.
  3. To make someone or something more comfortable with home life or ordinary routines.
    • After years of traveling, he finally domesticated and started enjoying quiet evenings at home.
    • She tried to domesticate her messy habits by creating a daily cleaning schedule.
    • The wild kitten slowly domesticated and now sleeps on the sofa.
Antonyms