Definition of 'dog'
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.
2. countable noun
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] 6. verb
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
10.
COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Image of 'dog'
© Dorottya Mathe, shutterstock
Video: pronunciation of 'dog'
noun
1.
a.
a domesticated canine mammal, Canis familiaris, occurring in many breeds that show a great variety in size and form
b.
(as modifier)
dog biscuit
2.
b.
(as modifier)
the dog family
▶ Related adjective: canine3.
a.
the male of animals of the dog family
b.
(as modifier)
a dog fox
5.
a mechanical device for gripping or holding, esp one of the axial slots by which gear wheels or shafts are engaged to transmit torque
13. a dog's chance
14. a dog's dinner
15. a dog's life
16. dog eat dog
18. put on the dog
verbWord forms: dogs, dogging or dogged (transitive)
19.
to pursue or follow after like a dog
22.
to grip, hold, or secure by a mechanical device
adverb
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Derived forms
adjective
Word origin of 'dog'
nounWord forms: plural dogs or dog
1.
a.
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.
b.
any of various wild canines
2.
the male of a canine
3.
a mean, contemptible fellow
5.
an andiron; firedog
6. Informal
a boy or man
lucky dog
7. US; [pl.]; Slang
feet
11. Meteorology
a.
a parhelion; sundog
b.
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:
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Word origin of 'dog'
Example sentences containing 'dog'
These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content.
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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. 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 dog
The more one gets to know of men, the more one values dogs
Dogs live with man as courtiers round a monarch, steeped in the flattery of his notice and enriched with sinecures 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 too Notebooks
Histories are more full of examples of the fidelity of dogs than of friends
Every dog has its day
Why keep a dog and bark yourself?
If you lie down with dogs, you will get up with fleas
Trends of 'dog'
Very Common. dog is one of the 4000 most commonly used words in the Collins dictionary
View usage for:
Translations for 'dog'
British English: dog
/dɒɡ/ NOUN
A dog is an animal that is often kept as a pet or used to guard or hunt things.
The dog wagged his tail.
- American English: dog
- Arabic: كَلْب
- Brazilian Portuguese: cachorro
- Chinese: 狗
- Croatian: pas
- Czech: pes
- Danish: hund
- Dutch: hond
- European Spanish: perro
- Finnish: koira
- French: chien
- German: Hund
- Greek: σκύλος
- Italian: cane
- Japanese: 犬
- Korean: 개
- Norwegian: hund
- Polish: pies
- European Portuguese: cão
- Romanian: câine
- Russian: собака
- Spanish: perro
- Swedish: hund
- Thai: สุนัข
- Turkish: köpek
- Ukrainian: собака
- Vietnamese: con chó
British English: dog 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.
- American English: dog
- Brazilian Portuguese: seguir
- Chinese: 长期困扰问题、伤病等
- European Spanish: perseguir
- French: poursuivre
- German: verfolgen
- Italian: perseguitare
- Japanese: 付きまとう
- Korean: 항상 따라다니다
- European Portuguese: seguir
- Spanish: perseguir
Nearby words of 'dog'
Source
Definition of dog from the
Collins English Dictionary
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