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dog

[ dawg, dog ]

/ dɔg, dɒg /

SEE 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.

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orchard

body of land completely surrounded by water

group of cultivated fruit trees

long mournful cry

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Idioms for dog

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

OTHER WORDS FROM dog

dog·less, adjectivedog·like, adjective

Words nearby dog

doest, doeth, dof, doff, doffer, dog, dog and bone, dog and pony show, dog ape, dog biscuit, dog box

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for 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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST

A former classical violinist, orchestral player, and music teacher, she lives in London with her husband, three children, and dog.
These Female Contemporaries Weren’t Afraid of Virginia Woolf|Louisa Treger|November 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It would be a sad alternative—as both the mule and the dog were looked upon more in the light of companions than slaves.
The Boy Hunters|Captain Mayne Reid
Dropping his rifle, he approached his dog with outstretched arms.
The Whelps of the Wolf|George Marsh
The dog on the roof barked viciously, then all the dogs in the village barked.
The Red Cross in Peace and War|Clara Barton
The dog was nuzzling Carl's hand, and Carl had almost forgotten his fear that the devil might appear.
The Trail of the Hawk|Sinclair Lewis
The dog stopped at the outside edge of the hole, and barked as loudly as he could.
Six Little Bunkers at Grandma Bell's|Laura Lee Hope

British Dictionary definitions for dog

dog

/ (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

(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

See also dogs

Derived forms of dog

doglike, adjective

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

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)

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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