Definition of 'dog'

Word Frequency

dog

(dɒg , US dɔːg )

Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular present tense dogs , present participle dogging , past tense, past participle dogged

1. countable noun

A dog is a very common four-legged animal that is often kept by people as a pet or to guard or hunt. There are many different breeds of dog.

Outside, a dog was barking.

The dog growled again.

The British are renowned as a nation of dog lovers.

Synonyms: hound, canine, bitch, puppy More Synonyms of dog

2. countable noun

You use dog to refer to a male dog, or to the male of some related species such as wolves or foxes.

Is this a dog or a bitch?

...a dog fox.

3. countable noun

If someone calls a man a dog, they strongly disapprove of him.

[disapproval]

4. countable noun

People use dog to refer to something that they consider unsatisfactory or of poor quality.

[US, informal, disapproval]

It's a real dog.

5. countable noun

If someone, especially a man, calls a woman or girl a dog, they mean that she is very ugly, unattractive, or boring.

[informal, offensive, disapproval]

How can you go out with her? She's a real dog.

6. verb

If problems or injuries dog you, they are with you all the time.

The problems that have dogged him all year are just a temporary setback. [VERB noun]

His career has been dogged by bad luck. [VERB noun]

Synonyms: plague, follow, trouble, haunt More Synonyms of dog

7. plural noun [the NOUN]

The dogs is a sports meeting where dogs, especially greyhounds, race and people bet on which dog will win.

[British, informal]

8. See also dogged, guide dog, prairie dog, sniffer dog

dog's dinner/breakfast

10.

dog eat dog

11.

going to the dogs

12.

to let sleeping dogs lie

13.

you can't teach an old dog new tricks

More Synonyms of dog

Image of 'dog'

Video: pronunciation of 'dog'

Word Frequency

dog in British

(dɒɡ )

noun

a domesticated canine mammal, Canis familiaris, occurring in many breeds that show a great variety in size and form

(as modifier)

dog biscuit

any other carnivore of the family Canidae, such as the dingo and coyote

(as modifier)

the dog family

▶ Related adjective: canine

the male of animals of the dog family

(as modifier)

a dog fox

4. (modifier)

spurious, inferior, or useless

dog Latin

(in combination)

dogberry

a mechanical device for gripping or holding, esp one of the axial slots by which gear wheels or shafts are engaged to transmit torque

6. informal

a fellow; chap

you lucky dog

7. informal

a man or boy regarded as unpleasant, contemptible, or wretched

8. US informal

a male friend: used as a term of address

9. slang

an unattractive or boring girl or woman

10. US and Canadian informal

something unsatisfactory or inferior

11. short for firedog

12.

any of various atmospheric phenomena

fogdog, seadog, sundog

13. a dog's chance

14. a dog's dinner

15. a dog's life

16. dog eat dog

17. like a dog's dinner

18. put on the dog

verbWord forms: dogs, dogging or dogged (transitive)

19.

to pursue or follow after like a dog

20.

to trouble; plague

to be dogged by ill health

21.

to chase with a dog or dogs

22.

to grip, hold, or secure by a mechanical device

adverb

23. (usually in combination)

thoroughly; utterly

dog-tired

Derived forms

doglike (ˈdogˌlike)

adjective

Word origin of 'dog'

Old English docga, of obscure origin

Word Frequency

dog in American

(dɔg ; dôg; dɑg ; däg)

nounWord forms: plural dogs or dog

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.

any of various wild canines

the male of a canine

a mean, contemptible fellow

a prairie dog, dogfish, or other animal thought to resemble a dog

an andiron; firedog

6. Informal

a boy or man

lucky dog

7. US; [pl.]; Slang

feet

hot dog (sense 1)

9. Slang

an unattractive or unpopular person

b. US

an unsatisfactory thing or unsuccessful venture

10. Mechanics

any of several devices for holding or grappling

11. Meteorology

a parhelion; sundog

a fogdog

adjective

12.

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

verb transitiveWord forms: dogged or ˈdogging

13.

to follow, hunt, or track down doggedly

14. US

to hold or secure with a mechanical dog

adverb

15.

very; completely

used in combination

dog-tired

Idioms:

every dog has his day

go to the dogs

let sleeping dogs lie

put on the dog

teach an old dog new tricks

the Greater Dog

the Lesser Dog

Word origin of 'dog'

ME, generalized in sense < late, rare OE docga, dogga (usual hund: see hound1) < ?; (sense 5) < its orig. shape: cf. Fr chenet

Example sentences containing 'dog'

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Survivors recall eating leaves and grass or gnawing on bones left out for the dogs. The Sun (2016)The recordings were then played to ten puppies and ten older dogs in a different room. Times, Sunday Times (2017)Universal said it also opens the door for albums aimed at horses and dogs. Times, Sunday Times (2016)This time dogs and cats had been welcome. Times, Sunday Times (2017)In fact, they had just bought a dog together. Times, Sunday Times (2016)The animal released the dog and he realised that it was a cougar, or mountain lion. Times, Sunday Times (2016)Miss Dean thinks it was probably a rabbit hole as the others would be large enough for a small dog to get out of. Times, Sunday Times (2016)That he is trying to teach old dogs new tricks. The Sun (2011)Many cat and dog treats are just as calorific as the junk food made for their owners. Times, Sunday Times (2015) People who have dogs live longer and are less prone to heart attacks. Times, Sunday Times (2013)There was only one dog in there. The Sun (2013)Which is a lot of being chased by dogs. Times, Sunday Times (2009)Now he has been released early from jail and is anxious to be top dog again. Times, Sunday Times (2013)We know that horses and dogs are superb in reading body language. Times, Sunday Times (2011)The family had both dogs put down following the attack. The Sun (2009)It is just as likely to come from a dog fox. Times, Sunday Times (2008)Another bundle may include three hot dogs and two bags of potato chips. Miller, Roger LeRoy & Fishe, Raymond P. H. Microeconomics: Price Theory in Practice (1995)This year the emphasis is on the health benefits of dog ownership. Times, Sunday Times (2009)Dogs or other animals are not permitted on any walk unless otherwise specified. Times, Sunday Times (2009)Wild animals must rescue their dog friend from a gang of pets. The Sun (2013)Yet science and social history do not explain the emotional bond between man and dog. Times, Sunday Times (2012)Having the dog is a great interest outside football. The Sun (2011)The royal dogs made out like bandits. The Sun (2013)Questions about a lack of speed that have dogged his career were answered in that instant. Times, Sunday Times (2016)So he asked a friend who made biscuits for dogs how to go about it. Times, Sunday Times (2007)Others talk more wildly of the threat to dogs and cats. Times, Sunday Times (2010)The letter appeared during what some of us regarded as a bad week for dogs. Times, Sunday Times (2009)IT'S hard for a bloke to carry a small dog around without looking a bit daft. The Sun (2012)Presumably he wanted to express something about there being life in the old dog yet. Times, Sunday Times (2014)Presumably if personal trainers are deemed a business then others too could find themselves being charged including dog walkers. Times, Sunday Times (2011) PEOPLE see dogs as the healthier option. The Sun (2011)When our dogs get ill, we have to fit visits to the vet and bouts of succour around the working day. Times, Sunday Times (2016)

Quotations

Love me, love my dogSt. Bernard

The more one gets to know of men, the more one values dogsA. Toussenel

Dogs live with man as courtiers round a monarch, steeped in the flattery of his notice and enriched with sinecuresRobert Louis Stevenson The Character of Dogs

The great pleasure of a dog is that you may make a fool of yourself with him and not only will he not scold you, but he will make a fool of himself tooSamuel Butler Notebooks

Histories are more full of examples of the fidelity of dogs than of friendsAlexander Pope

Every dog has its day

Why keep a dog and bark yourself?

If you lie down with dogs, you will get up with fleas

A live dog is better than a dead lion

Let sleeping dogs lie