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definitions

canine

[key-nahyn]
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adjective

of or like a dog; relating to or characteristic of dogs: canine loyalty.
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

a canid, or member of the dog family Canidae.
a dog.
a canine tooth; cuspid.

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RELATED WORDS

mutt, pooch, pup, cur, wolf, chow, hound, dingo, fox, hyena, coyote, lobo

Nearby words

  1. canicula,
  2. canicular,
  3. canid,
  4. canidae,
  5. canikin,
  6. canine distemper,
  7. canine leptospirosis,
  8. canine parvovirus,
  9. canine spasm,
  10. canine tooth

Origin of canine

1350–1400; Middle English canine canine tooth (< Middle French) < Latin canīnus, equivalent to can(is) dog + -īnus -ine1
Related formsca·nin·i·ty [key-nin-i-tee] /keɪˈnɪn ɪ ti/, nounsu·per·ca·nine, adjective, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for canine

British Dictionary definitions for canine

canine

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)
of or relating to any of the four teeth, two in each jaw, situated between the incisors and the premolars

noun also: canid (ˈkænɪd)

any animal of the family Canidae
a canine tooth

Word Origin for canine

C17: from Latin canīnus, from canis dog
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for canine
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Medicine definitions for canine

canine

[kā′nīn]

adj.

Of, relating to, or characteristic of members of the family Canidae.
Of, relating to, or being one of the pointed conical teeth located between the incisors and the first bicuspids.

n.

An animal of the family Canidae, especially a dog.
A canine tooth.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Science definitions for canine

canine

[kā′nīn]

Adjective

Characteristic of or resembling dogs, wolves, or related animals.
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.

Noun

A canine tooth.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.