sire

/ˈsaɪər/

/saɪe/

Other forms: sires; sired; siring

A sire is an animal's father. A newborn foal might look very much like his sire, with a white stripe on his brown face.

Every once in a while, the word sire is used for a human — your dad is your sire — but it's much more common to find this word describing an animal's male parent. It's also a verb, meaning "to father," as in "My prize pig sires the cutest piglets." In the old days, you'd also use sire to directly address a nobleman or a king. It comes from the Latin word senior, "elder."

Definitions of sire

1. noun

   male parent of an animal especially a domestic animal such as a horse
   type of:

   male

   an animal that produces gametes (spermatozoa) that can fertilize female gametes (ova)
2. noun

   the founder of a family
   synonyms: father, forefather

   types:

   patriarch

   any of the early biblical characters regarded as fathers of the human race

   antediluvian, antediluvian patriarch

   any of the early patriarchs who lived prior to the Noachian deluge

   Jacob

   (Old Testament) son of Isaac; brother of Esau; father of the twelve patriarchs of Israel; Jacob wrestled with God and forced God to bless him, so God gave Jacob the new name of Israel (meaning `one who has been strong against God')

   Simeon

   (Old Testament) the 2nd son of Jacob and one of the 12 patriarchs of Israel

   type of:

   ancestor, antecedent, ascendant, ascendent, root

   someone from whom you are descended (but usually more remote than a grandparent)
3. noun

   a title of address formerly used for a man of rank and authority
   type of:

   Lord, noble, nobleman

   a titled peer of the realm
4. verb

   make children
   synonyms: beget, bring forth, engender, father, generate, get, mother

   type of:

   create, make

   make or cause to be or to become