'dog

Noun

dog (countable and uncountable, plural dogs)

1. The species Canis familiaris (sometimes designated Canis lupus familiaris), domesticated for thousands of years and of highly variable appearance because of human breeding.
   • The dog barked all night long.
2. Any member of the family Canidae, including domestic dogs, wolves, coyotes, jackals, and their relatives (extant and extinct).
   • This includes the development of hyena-like bone crushers (Osteoborus and Borophagus), a large bone-crushing hunting dog (Aelurodon), and another borophagine frugivorous dog (Carpocyon).1989, John L. Gittleman, Carnivore Behavior, Ecology, and Evolution, page 561

   Synonyms:

   canid

3. (attributive, often) A male dog, wolf, or fox, as opposed to a bitch or vixen.
   • Entirely disregarding sex, Ch. Searchlight has a beautiful Cocker head, but as he is a dog, his head is too fine and far too much upon the bitchy order.1908, Dogdom, volume 9, page 337, column 1
4. (rare, uncountable) The meat of this animal, eaten as food.
   • Did you know that they eat dog in parts of Asia?
5. (derogatory, figuratively, slang) A dull, unattractive girl or woman.
   • She’s a real dog.
6. (figuratively, slang) A man, guy, chap.
   • You lucky dog!

See all 36 meanings of dog