noun Uncommon

sire

seye-uh

Sire (noun) means the male parent of an animal, especially in breeding contexts. Example: “The foal's sire was a champion racehorse.”

noun

The male parent of an animal, especially in breeding contexts.

"The foal's sire was a champion racehorse."

A formal or old-fashioned way of addressing a king or other male sovereign.

"The knight bowed and said, "As you wish, sire.""

verb

To father offspring, especially said of male animals.

"The stallion has sired several award-winning colts."

How to use sire

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe male parent of an animal, or a formal way to address a king.

Easily confused with

sir →

Common pairings

sire a foal yes, sire

Word forms

sired past tense, sires plural, sires singular

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The foal's _____ was a champion racehorse.

Etymology

From Old French sire, from Latin senior ("older"). A doublet of "sir" and "senior."

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

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get father mother generate beget engender forefather bring forth

Related words

be get go become understand father son experience

Rhymes for sire

ire fire wire tire lire dire hire mire afire Zaire spire shire

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Frequently asked questions

What does “sire” mean?

The word “sire” means the male parent of an animal, especially in breeding contexts. In plain terms, the male parent of an animal, or a formal way to address a king.

How do you pronounce “sire”?

“Sire” is pronounced seye-uh (/saɪə(ɹ)/ in IPA).

How do you use “sire” in a sentence?

Here is “sire” used in a sentence: “The foal's sire was a champion racehorse.”

What part of speech is “sire”?

Depending on how it is used, “sire” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “sire” come from?

The word “sire” comes from Latin. From Old French sire, from Latin senior ("older"). A doublet of "sir" and "senior.".

Is “sire” a common word?

“Sire” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “sire” have?

“Sire” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the male parent of an animal, especially in breeding contexts.

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