dog
(dôg, dŏg)n.1. A domesticated carnivorous mammal (Canis familiaris syn. Canis lupus subsp. familiaris) occurring as a wide variety of breeds, many of which are traditionally used for hunting, herding, drawing sleds, and other tasks, and are kept as pets.
2. Any of various carnivorous mammals of the family Canidae, such as the dingo.
3. A male animal of the family Canidae, especially of a fox or a domesticated breed.
4. Any of various other animals, such as the prairie dog.
5. Informal a. A person: You won, you lucky dog.
b. A person regarded as contemptible: You stole my watch, you dog.
6. Slang a. A person regarded as unattractive or uninteresting.
b. Something of inferior or low quality: "The President had read the speech to some of his friends and they told him it was a dog" (John P. Roche).
c. An investment that produces a low return or a loss.
7. dogs Slang The feet.
9. Slang A hot dog; a wiener.
10. Any of various hooked or U-shaped metallic devices used for gripping or holding heavy objects.
11. Astronomy A sundog.
adv. Totally; completely. Often used in combination: dog-tired.
tr.v. dogged,
dog·ging,
dogs 1. To track or trail persistently: "A stranger then is still dogging us" (Arthur Conan Doyle).
2. To hold or fasten with a mechanical device: "Watertight doors and hatches were dropped into place and dogged down to give the ship full watertight integrity" (Tom Clancy).
3. a. To be persistently or inescapably associated with: Questions about his youthful indiscretions dogged him throughout his career.
b. To be recurrently or persistently in the mind; haunt: Despair dogged him in his final years.
Idioms: dog it Slang To fail to expend the effort needed to do or accomplish something.
go to the dogs To go to ruin; degenerate.
put on the dog Informal To make an ostentatious display of elegance, wealth, or culture.
[Middle English dogge, cur, ordinary dog (often as opposed to a hunting hound or other valuable dog), from Old English docga, dog, perhaps originally a diminutive or a hypocorism meaning "Darky, Dusky," from dox, dark, dusky (for the formation, compare Old English frox, frog, and frogga, frog, perhaps originally a diminutive).]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
dog
(dɒɡ) n1. (Animals)
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. (Animals)
a. any other carnivore of the family Canidae, such as the dingo and coyote
b. (as modifier): the dog family. canine
3. (Zoology)
a. the male of animals of the dog family
b. (as modifier): a dog fox.
4. (
modifier)
a. spurious, inferior, or useless: dog Latin.
b. (in combination): dogberry.
5. (Mechanical Engineering) a mechanical device for gripping or holding, esp one of the axial slots by which gear wheels or shafts are engaged to transmit torque
6. informal a fellow; chap: you lucky dog.
7. informal a man or boy regarded as unpleasant, contemptible, or wretched
8. informal US a male friend: used as a term of address
9. slang an unattractive or boring girl or woman
10. informal US and Canadian something unsatisfactory or inferior
13. a dog's chance no chance at all
14. a dog's dinner a dog's breakfast informal something that is messy or bungled
15. a dog's life a wretched existence
16. dog eat dog ruthless competition or self-interest
17. (Clothing & Fashion) like a dog's dinner informal dressed smartly or ostentatiously
18. put on the dog informal US and Canadian to behave or dress in an ostentatious or showy manner
vb (
tr) ,
dogs,
dogging or dogged19. to pursue or follow after like a dog
20. to trouble; plague: to be dogged by ill health.
21. (Hunting) to chase with a dog or dogs
22. (Mechanical Engineering) to grip, hold, or secure by a mechanical device
adv (usually in combination) thoroughly; utterly: dog-tired.
[Old English docga, of obscure origin]
ˈdogˌlike adj
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
dog
(dɔg, dɒg)
n., v. dogged, dog•ging. n. 1. a domesticated canid, Canis familiaris, bred in many varieties.
2. any carnivore of the dog family Canidae, characterized in the wild state by a long muzzle, erect ears, and a long bushy tail; canid.
3. the male of such an animal.
4. a despicable man or youth.
5. a fellow in general: a lucky dog.
6. dogs, Slang. feet.
7. Slang. a. something worthless or of extremely poor quality.
b. an utter failure; flop.
8. Slang. an unattractive person.
10. (cap.) either of two constellations, Canis Major or Canis Minor.
11. a. any of various mechanical devices, as for gripping or holding something.
b. a projection on a moving part for moving steadily or for tripping another part with which it engages.
v.t. 12. to follow or track like a dog, esp. with hostile intent; hound.
13. to drive or chase with a dog or dogs.
Idioms: 1. dog it, Informal. to do something perfunctorily or not at all.
2. go to the dogs, to deteriorate; degenerate.
3. put on the dog, Informal. to assume an attitude of wealth or importance.
[before 1050; Middle English dogge, Old English docga]
dog′like`, adj.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
dog
(dôg)1. Any of various meat-eating mammals having a long muzzle and, in nearly all species, a four-toed foot. Many species hunt in packs that have complex social structures. Dogs include the wolf, fox, jackal, and dingo.
2. The domesticated dog, kept as a pet or work animal since ancient times and probably descended from the wolf. Domesticated dogs are bred in many varieties, though they all belong to the same species.
The American Heritage® Student Science Dictionary, Second Edition. Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.