Pronunciation: [ɑː bɹˈɛd] (IPA) 
The word "are bred" is commonly pronounced with the IPA phonetic transcription /ər bɹɛd/. The spelling of this word can be explained using the rules of English pronunciation. The letter "a" is pronounced as a schwa sound /ə/ followed by the letter "r", which is pronounced as an "r" sound /ɹ/. The letters "b" and "r" make up the sound of "bred" /bɹɛd/, which rhymes with "red". Together, these sounds form the phrase "are bred" /ər bɹɛd/.
"Are bred" is a verb phrase that represents the present tense of the verb "breed" coupled with the auxiliary verb "are," indicating the action of producing offspring or reproducing. The term "bred" refers to the process of carefully selecting two living beings, usually animals or plants, with desirable characteristics and mating them to produce offspring with those desired traits. This phrase is commonly used to describe the intentional act of breeding for specific purposes, such as improving the genetic stock of livestock, plants, or domesticated animals.
When "are bred" is used, it suggests that the breeding process is ongoing or currently happening. The phrase signifies that animals or plants are currently being propagated in a deliberate manner under controlled conditions, oftentimes by humans. The purpose of this selective breeding is to enhance specific desirable traits, such as better yields, increased size, improved intelligence, resistance to diseases, or altered physical attributes, in future generations.
Selective breeding can be observed in various fields, such as agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry, and biotechnology. It involves a careful evaluation and choice of parent organisms that possess the desired traits, followed by controlled mating or reproduction to ensure the transfer of those traits to their offspring. The "are bred" phrase captures the continuous and intentional breeding process, emphasizing an ongoing effort to maintain or improve desired traits in subsequent generations.
The phrase "are bred" is not a standalone word, but rather a combination of words. "Are" is the second person present tense form of the verb "to be", and "bred" is the past participle form of the verb "to breed".
The etymology of "be" can be traced back to Old English "bēon", which has Germanic roots. The word "be" has remained relatively unchanged throughout its evolution.
The word "breed" comes from Old English "brēdan", also of Germanic origin. It initially meant "to nurture" or "to bring up", and later expanded to include the sense of "producing offspring" or "reproduce".
As for the phrase "are bred" itself, it denotes the action of breeding or producing offspring in the present tense.
