To tame an animal and adapt it for human use over generations, or to make something (like a plant or idea) suitable for home or domestic use.
From Medieval Latin 'domesticatus' (made into a household member) + Latin 'domesticus' (of the household, from 'domus'). Entered English in the 16th century.
Domestication isn't quick—it took thousands of years to domesticate wolves into dogs, and scientists estimate it requires many generations of breeding for wild behavior to transform into household-friendly behavior.
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