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dog Definition

dog (dôg, däg)

noun pl. dogs or dog

    1. any of a large and varied group of domesticated canines (Canis familiaris) often kept as a house pet or used for hunting, guarding people or property, etc.
    2. any of various wild canines
  2. the male of a canine
  3. a mean, contemptible fellow
  4. a prairie dog, dogfish, or other animal thought to resemble a dog

  5. Etymology: < its orig. shape: cf. Fr chenet

    an andiron; firedog
  6. Informal a boy or man lucky dog
  7. ☆ Slang feet
  8. hot dog (sense )
  9. Slang
    1. an unattractive or unpopular person
    2. ☆ an unsatisfactory thing or unsuccessful venture
  10. Mech. any of several devices for holding or grappling
  11. Meteorol.
    1. a parhelion; sundog
    2. a fogdog

Etymology: ME, generalized in sense < late, rare OE docga, dogga (usual hund: see hound) < ?

adjective

designating a family (Canidae) of meat-eating animals that includes dogs, foxes, wolves, coyotes, and jackals

transitive verb dogged, dog′·ging

  1. to follow, hunt, or track down doggedly
  2. ☆ to hold or secure with a mechanical dog

adverb

very; completely: used in combination dog-tired

dog Idioms

a dog's age

Informal a long time

a dog's life

a wretched existence

dog in the manger

a person who keeps others from using something which that person is not using

dog it

Slang to fail to exert the maximum or expected effort

every dog has his day

something good or lucky happens to everyone at one time or another

go to the dogs

Informal to deteriorate; degenerate

let sleeping dogs lie

to let well enough alone; not disturb things as they are for fear of something worse

put on the dog

☆

Slang to make a show of being very elegant, wealthy, etc.

teach an old dog new tricks

to induce a person of settled habits to adopt new methods or ideas

the Greater Dog

the constellation Canis Major

the Lesser Dog

the constellation Canis Minor

dog Synonyms

dog

n.

  1. A domestic animal

    hound, puppy, canine, mongrel, cur, canis familiaris (Latin), bitch, pup, whelp, stray, watchdog, lap dog, guide dog, Seeing Eye dog, pye-dog, pooch*, mutt*, bowwow*, Fido*, fleabag*. *

    Types and breeds of dogs include: hunting, field, racing, courser, boxer, water, shepherd, bloodhound, wolfhound, greyhound, whippet, St. Bernard, mastiff, Newfoundland, Great Dane, borzoi, Rottweiler, German shepherd, Doberman pinscher, Afghan, Irish wolfhound, Labrador retriever, Golden retriever, Chesapeake Bay retriever, malamute, husky, Samoyed, Akita, collie, Briard, Old English sheep dog, Gordon setter, English setter, Irish setter, pointer, springer, spaniel, cocker spaniel, water spaniel, Brittany spaniel, foxhound, basset hound, beagle, dachshund, Dalmatian, English bulldog, pit bull, spitz, chow, Pomeranian, poodle, toy poodle, standard poodle, barbet, French poodle, Pekingese, Maltese, Chihuahua, Mexican hairless, Airedale, schnauzer, Sealyham, fox terrier, wirehaired terrier, Scottie, Kerry blue, black and tan, Bedlington terrier, Aberdeen, Irish terrier, Jack Russell terrier, Yorkshire terrier, West Highland terrier, Cairn terrier, bull terrier, Boston terrier, Manchester terrier, Welsh corgi, Cardigan, Pembroke.

  2. Insulting term

    scamp, swine, blackguard; see rascal.

a dog's life<strong>*

wretched existence, hard life, bad luck, trouble; see difficulty 1, poverty 1.

every dog has his day<strong>*

have a chance, recover, do well; see prosper, succeed 1.

go to the dogs<strong>*

deteriorate, degenerate, decline; see decay.

let sleeping dogs lie<strong>*

ignore, leave well enough alone, pass over; see neglect 1.

put on the dog<strong>*

show off, entertain lavishly, put on airs; see display 1, dress up, pretend 1.

teach an old dog new tricks<strong>*

influence, convince, change; see change 1, persuade 1.

dog Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • behave: Up to 2 well behaved dogs welcome ( please note, this property is close to owner's working hill farm ).
  • bark: The Bowkers had gone only yards off the public road when they encountered a barking dog, then a barking landowner.

Adjective modifier

  • stray: The council must keep all stray dogs for 7 days during which time the owner may reclaim them.
  • pet: A pet dog should also be washed several times.
  • mad: SCHEDULE YOUR DAY CAREFULLY HEED the phrase " mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun " .
  • hot: Kitty wins a year's supply of hot dogs.

Modifies a noun

  • warden: Please note there is a £ 55.00 dog warden service charge to reclaim your dog from the holding kennels.
  • collar: Dog collars Dog collars avaliable through links in our online dog store.
  • walker: She saw a few other dog walkers she recognized.
  • owner: Do you know of any dog owner or dog lover who thinks Puppy Farms are a good thing?
  • handler: Sheep dog handlers from the northern region will be competing for points to go forward to the English National.
  • sledding: The festival utilizes the 1988 Winter Olympics site for dog sledding, snowboarding, and the Winter Village.

Noun used with modifier

  • sniffer: Nina Rees, 20, who lives close by, said: " There were police on the railroad tracks with sniffer dogs.
  • hearing: We also welcome both Guide dogs and hearing dogs.
  • sled: NATURE: Sled Dogs, Sledding Into The Wilderness They call it the Last Great Race.
  • prairie: Rodents including ground and rock squirrels and prairie dogs are the natural hosts.
  • guard: But then he found he had to slaughter three or four lambs every day to feed the guard dogs.
  • pedigree: A number of pedigree dogs are also more expensive to ensure, .

Possessives

mercury: The rich soils support a diverse flora dominated by dog's mercury and ramsons.

Preposition: in

kennel: I ask him if he knows every dog in the kennel by name.

Browse dictionary entries near dog

  1. ‹ doff
  2. ‹ doeth
  3. ‹ doest
  4. ‹ doesn't
  5. ‹ doeskin
  6. ‹ does
  7. ‹ doer
  8. ‹ doe-eyed
  9. ‹ doe
  10. ‹ Dodoma
  1. dog and pony show ›
  2. dog biscuit ›
  3. dog collar ›
  4. dog days ›
  5. dog-ear ›
  6. dog-eat-dog ›
  7. dog fennel ›
  8. dog Latin ›
  9. dog paddle ›
  10. dog rose ›