- 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.
- the male of such an animal.
- any of various animals resembling a canid.
- a fellow: You've got a lovely family, you lucky dog.Security was patting down the concertgoers, but that sly dog snuck a camera in.
- an ugly, despicable, boring, or crude person: I had high hopes for this date, but he turned out to be a dog.
- 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.
- hot dog.
- either of two constellations, Canis Major or Canis Minor.
- feet: I couldn't wait to get home and take off my shoes—my dogs were killing me.
- 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.
- a device on a drawbench for drawing the work through the die.
- a clamp binding together two timbers.
- an iron bar driven into a stone or timber to provide a means of lifting it.
- a firedog; andiron.
- a sundog or fogdog.
- a word formerly used in communications to represent the letter D.
- to follow or track like a dog, especially with hostile intent; hound: After the film, the actor was dogged by paparazzi.
- to cause persistent problems or distress; haunt; plague: She was dogged by a sense of guilt over her part in the scandal.
- to drive or chase with a dog or dogs.
- to fasten with dogs: They put the helmet on his head and dogged it to the gasket with the turnbuckles.
- to pause or stop a relentless attack, pursuit, or campaign: There was so much lobbying that the president had to ask the group to call off the dogs.
- dog it, Informal.
- to shirk one's responsibility; loaf on the job: He was a ball hog who couldn't run properly and dogged it on defense.
- to retreat, flee, renege, etc.: Her sponsor dogged it when she needed him most.
- fight (def. 18).
- to deteriorate; degenerate morally or physically: This neighborhood is going to the dogs.
- to have an unhappy or harassed existence: He complains that he led a dog's life in the army.
- to refrain from action that would alter an existing situation for fear of causing greater problems or complexities: I'm thinking of trying to repair the defect in my computer, but the issue is minor so maybe I should let sleeping dogs lie.
- to assume an attitude of wealth or importance; put on airs: For banquet night we get to put on the dog and dress up and look spiffy.
- very sick: We went on vacation but I was sick as a dog the whole time and couldn't enjoy it.
- wolf (def. 13).
- a domesticated canine mammal, Canis familiaris, occurring in many breeds that show a great variety in size and form
- (as modifier)
- any other carnivore of the family Canidae, such as the dingo and coyote
- (as modifier)
- the male of animals of the dog family
- (as modifier)
- (modifier)
- spurious, inferior, or useless
- (in combination)
- a mechanical device for gripping or holding, esp one of the axial slots by which gear wheels or shafts are engaged to transmit torque
- a fellow; chap
- a man or boy regarded as unpleasant, contemptible, or wretched
- a male friend: used as a term of address
- an unattractive or boring girl or woman
- something unsatisfactory or inferior
- short for firedog
- any of various atmospheric phenomena
- no chance at all
- something that is messy or bungled
- a wretched existence
- ruthless competition or self-interest
- dressed smartly or ostentatiously
- to behave or dress in an ostentatious or showy manner
- to pursue or follow after like a dog
- to trouble; plague
- to chase with a dog or dogs
- to grip, hold, or secure by a mechanical device
- thoroughly; utterly
