dog

[dawg, dog]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR dog ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a domesticated canid, Canis familiaris, bred in many varieties.

any carnivore of the dog family Canidae, having prominent canine teeth and, in the wild state, a long and slender muzzle, a deep-chested muscular body, a bushy tail, and large, erect ears.Compare canid.

the male of such an animal.

any of various animals resembling a dog.

a despicable man or youth.

Informal. a fellow in general: a lucky dog.

dogs, Slang. feet.

Slang.

something worthless or of extremely poor quality: That used car you bought is a dog.
an utter failure; flop: Critics say his new play is a dog.

Slang. an ugly, boring, or crude person.

Slang. hot dog.

(initial capital letter) Astronomy. either of two constellations, Canis Major or Canis Minor.

Machinery.

any of various mechanical devices, as for gripping or holding something.
a projection on a moving part for moving steadily or for tripping another part with which it engages.

Also called gripper, nipper. Metalworking. a device on a drawbench for drawing the work through the die.

a cramp binding together two timbers.

an iron bar driven into a stone or timber to provide a means of lifting it.

an andiron; firedog.

Meteorology. a sundog or fogdog.

a word formerly used in communications to represent the letter D.

verb (used with object), dogged, dog·ging.

to follow or track like a dog, especially with hostile intent; hound.

to drive or chase with a dog or dogs.

Machinery. to fasten with dogs.

Idioms

dog it, Informal.

to shirk one's responsibility; loaf on the job.
to retreat, flee, renege, etc.: a sponsor who dogged it when needed most.

go to the dogs, Informal. to deteriorate; degenerate morally or physically: This neighborhood is going to the dogs.

lead a dog's life, to have an unhappy or harassed existence: He complains that he led a dog's life in the army.

let sleeping dogs lie, to refrain from action that would alter an existing situation for fear of causing greater problems or complexities.

put on the dog, Informal. to assume an attitude of wealth or importance; put on airs.

throw to the dogs. throw(def 57).

Origin of dog

before 1050; Middle English dogge, Old English docga

Related formsdog·less, adjectivedog·like, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for dog

puppy, pup, shadow, hound, plague, haunt, cur, stray, tyke, bitch, mutt, mongrel, doggy, pooch, pursue, track, trail, tail, tag, trouble

Examples from the Web for dog

Contemporary Examples of dog

Indeed, although he works here in the old town, he lives in the new part of the city where he walks his dog in the morning.
The Photographer Who Gave Up Manhattan for Marrakech
Liza Foreman
January 6, 2015
Hangover Rx: “The old ‘hair of the dog’ is pretty much just a myth,” says White.
5 Hangover Cures to Save You After a Few Too Many
DailyBurn
December 19, 2014
As the agents apprehended and detained the man, the dog remained unleashed, and ran down the hill to where Marino was sleeping.
Drug Smuggler Sues U.S. Over Dog Bite
Caitlin Dickson
December 10, 2014
I am not a fan of spoilers, if it were up to me, I would lie like a dog about every upcoming issue.
Gail Simone’s Bisexual Catman and the ‘Secret Six’
Rich Goldstein
December 6, 2014
As Johnson generously observes, “If any dog had a right to mark its new territory, it was Churchill.”
Boris Johnson’s Churchill Man Crush
Michael F. Bishop
November 22, 2014

Historical Examples of dog

Eudora blushed deeply, and busily caressed the dog with her foot.
Philothea
Lydia Maria Child
And oh, sir,” added Stephen, “may we crave a drop of water for our dog?
The Armourer's Prentices
Charlotte M. Yonge
And throwing himself on the grass, he hid his face against the dog and sobbed.
The Armourer's Prentices
Charlotte M. Yonge
In this he resembled a dog who barks when a stranger approaches.
Ancient Man
Hendrik Willem van Loon
When it is cold, the dog finds a spot in front of the stove.
Ancient Man
Hendrik Willem van Loon

British Dictionary definitions for dog

dog

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

(modifier)

spurious, inferior, or uselessdog 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

informal a fellow; chapyou lucky dog

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

US informal a male friend: used as a term of address

slang an unattractive or boring girl or woman

US and Canadian informal something unsatisfactory or inferior

short for firedog

any of various atmospheric phenomenaSee fogdog, seadog, sundog

a dog's chance no chance at all

a dog's dinner or a dog's breakfast informal something that is messy or bungled

a dog's life a wretched existence

dog eat dog ruthless competition or self-interest

like a dog's dinner informal dressed smartly or ostentatiously

put on the dog US and Canadian informal to behave or dress in an ostentatious or showy manner

verb dogs, dogging or dogged (tr)

to pursue or follow after like a dog

to trouble; plagueto be dogged by ill health

to chase with a dog or dogs

to grip, hold, or secure by a mechanical device

adverb

(usually in combination) thoroughly; utterlydog-tired

Word Origin for dog

Old English docga, of obscure origin

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 dog

Old English docga, a late, rare word used of a powerful breed of canine. It forced out Old English hund (the general Germanic and Indo-European word; see canine) by 16c. and subsequently was picked up in many continental languages (e.g. French dogue (16c.), Danish dogge), but the origin remains one of the great mysteries of English etymology.

Many expressions -- a dog's life (c.1600), go to the dogs (1610s), etc. -- reflect earlier hard use of the animals as hunting accessories, not pampered pets. In ancient times, "the dog" was the worst throw in dice (attested in Greek, Latin, and Sanskrit, where the word for "the lucky player" was literally "the dog-killer"), which plausibly explains the Greek word for "danger," kindynas, which appears to be "play the dog."

Slang meaning "ugly woman" is from 1930s; that of "sexually aggressive man" is from 1950s. Adjectival phrase dog-eat-dog attested by 1850s. Dog tag is from 1918. To dog-ear a book is from 1650s; dog-eared in extended sense of "worn, unkempt" is from 1894.

Notwithstanding, as a dog hath a day, so may I perchance have time to declare it in deeds. [Princess Elizabeth, 1550]

It is ill wakyng of a sleapyng dogge. [Heywood, 1562]

Phrase put on the dog "get dressed up" (1934) may look back to the stiff stand-up shirt collars that in the 1890s were the height of male fashion (and were known as dog-collars at least from 1883), with reference to collars worn by dogs. The common Spanish word for "dog," perro, also is a mystery word of unknown origin, perhaps from Iberian. A group of Slavic "dog" words (Old Church Slavonic pisu, Polish pies, Serbo-Croatian pas) likewise are of unknown origin.

"to track like a dog," 1510s, see dog (n.). Related: Dogged; dogging.

Idioms and Phrases with dog

dog

In addition to the idioms beginning with dog

dog days
dog eat dog
dog in the manger
dog it

also see:

coon's (dog's) age
every dog has its day
go to pot (the dogs)
hair of the dog
hot dog
in the doghouse
let sleeping dogs lie
put on the dog
rain cats and dogs
see a man about a dog
shaggy dog story
sick as a dog
tail wagging the dog
teach an old dog new tricks
throw to the wolves (dogs)
top banana (dog)