Pronunciation: [dəmˈɛstɪkˌe͡ɪt] (IPA) 
The word "domesticate" is spelled as /dəˈmɛstɪkeɪt/. The first syllable is pronounced as "duh" with an unstressed schwa sound followed by the stressed "mest" which is pronounced as "messt". The second syllable is pronounced as "ti" with an unstressed schwa sound and the final syllable is pronounced as "kate" with a long "a" sound. This word means to tame or adapt an animal or plant to live with or be of use to humans.
Domesticate is a transitive verb that refers to the process of taming, training, or adapting a wild or untamed animal or plant species for human use, typically for companionship, labor, or agricultural purposes. This verb is also commonly used in the context of turning a previously wild or untamed land or area into a human dwelling or cultivated space.
When applied to animals, to domesticate means to select, breed, and raise them under controlled conditions so that they become accustomed to living with and serving humans. This process often involves adjusting their behavior, habitats, diets, or reproductive patterns to suit human needs. Common examples of domesticated animals include dogs, cats, horses, cows, chickens, and sheep.
In regard to plants, to domesticate means to modify or cultivate wild species, making them more useful for agricultural practices, food production, or ornamental purposes. This involves selecting certain traits, such as size, taste, yield, or disease resistance, and promoting their growth.
Overall, the act of domesticating both animals and plants has been essential to human civilization, allowing for the development of agriculture, pets, and livestock, as well as the establishment of permanent settlements.
To make at ease as if at home; to accustom to remain at home; to tame or reclaim from a wild state.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "domesticate" has its roots in the Latin word "domesticare", which is derived from "domesticus". "Domesticus" translates to "belonging to the household", and its Latin root word, "domus", means "house". So, the term "domesticate" originally referred to bringing or adapting something or someone to the domestic environment or making them suitable for the household. Over time, the word evolved to primarily encompass the process of taming or training animals for human use and companionship.
