canine
Americanadjective
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of or like a dog; relating to or characteristic of dogs.
canine loyalty.
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Anatomy, Zoology. of or relating to the four pointed teeth, especially prominent in dogs, situated one on each side of each jaw, next to the incisors.
noun
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a canid, or member of the dog family Canidae.
-
a dog.
-
a canine tooth; cuspid.
adjective
-
of or resembling a dog; doglike
-
of, relating to, or belonging to the Canidae, a family of mammals, including dogs, jackals, wolves, and foxes, typically having a bushy tail, erect ears, and a long muzzle: order Carnivora (carnivores)
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of or relating to any of the four teeth, two in each jaw, situated between the incisors and the premolars
noun
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any animal of the family Canidae
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a canine tooth
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Characteristic of or resembling dogs, wolves, or related animals.
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Relating to any of the four pointed teeth located behind the incisors in most mammals. In carnivores, the canine teeth are adapted for cutting and tearing meat.
Other Word Forms
- caninity noun
- supercanine adjective
Etymology
Origin of canine
1350–1400; Middle English canine canine tooth (< Middle French ) < Latin canīnus, equivalent to can ( is ) dog + -īnus -ine 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But would the feature ever extend beyond canines?
The law named after the canine came into effect on Tuesday and recognises the "emotional bond" between pets and their human families, the state government said.
From BBC
Another clue is the presence of pronounced canines that separate one set of teeth from another—the incisors from the bicuspids and molars, for instance.
The three-hour event blends the cuteness of canine hijinks with a serious message about pet adoption.
From Salon
That Rottweiler contended for the Palm Dog at last year’s Cannes, a prize for the festival’s best canine.
From Los Angeles Times
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
