dog

noun

• 1a domesticated carnivorous mammal that typically has a long snout, an acute sense of smell, and a barking, howling, or whining voice. It is widely kept as a pet or for work or field sports.

  • Canis familiaris, family Canidae (the dog family); probably domesticated from the wolf in the Mesolithic period. The dog family also includes the wolves, coyotes, jackals, and foxes
• a wild animal of the dog family.
• the male of an animal of the dog family, or of some other mammals such as the otter: [as modifier]:a dog fox

• 2 informal a person regarded as unpleasant, contemptible, or wicked (used as a term of abuse):come out, Michael, you dog!
• [with adjective] dated used to refer to a person of a specified kind in a tone of playful reproof, commiseration, or congratulation:you lucky dog!
• used in various phrases to refer to someone who is abject or miserable, especially because they have been treated harshly:I make him work like a dog Rob was treated like a dog
• informal derogatory a woman regarded as unattractive.
• informal, chiefly North American a thing of poor quality; a failure:a dog of a movie

• 3short for firedog.

• 4a mechanical device for gripping.

• 5 (dogs) North American informal feet:if only I could sit down and rest my tired dogs

verb (dogs, dogging, dogged)

• 1follow (someone or their movements) closely and persistently:photographers seemed to dog her every step
• (of a problem) cause continual trouble for:their finance committee has been dogged by controversy

• 2 (dog it) informal, chiefly North American act lazily; fail to try one’s hardest.

• 3grip (something) with a mechanical device: [with object and complement]:she has dogged the door shut