dog
dog
Pronunciation
/dɒɡ/
dog: /dɒɡ/
/d/ - voiced alveolar plosive
/ɒ/ - open back rounded vowel
/ɡ/ - voiced velar plosive
Word Form Variations
Singular noun: dog
Plural noun: dogs
Verb (base form): dog
Verb (third-person singular present): dogs
Verb (present participle): dogging
Verb (past tense/past participle): dogged
Adjective: dogged (often derived from the verb, meaning persistent)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition 1: A domesticated carnivorous mammal, Canis familiaris, typically having a keen sense of smell and hearing, a bushy tail, and a wide variety of breeds developed for specific purposes such as hunting, herding, or companionship.
Synonyms: canine, hound, pooch (informal), cur (derogatory)
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms, as it refers to a specific animal)
Definition 2: A person, especially a man, regarded as unpleasant, contemptible, or morally corrupt.
Synonyms: scoundrel, rogue, villain, cad
Antonyms: hero, gentleman, saint
Definition 3: A mechanical device for gripping or holding something, often in a simple and robust manner.
Synonyms: clamp, grip, fastener, catch
Antonyms: release, loosen, free
Verb
Definition 1: To follow closely and persistently; to pursue relentlessly.
Synonyms: shadow, hound, track, pursue, tail
Antonyms: abandon, elude, escape, shake off
Definition 2: To trouble or plague continuously; to cause persistent problems for.
Synonyms: vex, beset, haunt, afflict, bother
Antonyms: relieve, alleviate, ease, comfort
Examples of Use
Books:
"Every night, the dog lay at the foot of his master's bed, a silent guardian against the dark." (The Adventures of Rusty)
"He was dogged by a sense of foreboding, a feeling that no matter how hard he tried, failure would always find him." (The Relentless Pursuit)
Newspapers:
"The local animal shelter is hosting an adoption drive this weekend, hoping to find forever homes for dozens of rescue dogs." (Local News Tribune, June 29, 2025)
"Despite the economic downturn, the company has doggedly pursued its expansion plans, opening three new branches this quarter." (Business Daily, June 28, 2025)
Online Publications:
"Why dogs are truly man's best friend: The science behind our bond with canines." (Smithsonian Magazine Online, May 15, 2025)
"Tech giant faces legal battle as a former employee claims he was dogged by discriminatory practices throughout his tenure." (Wired.com, June 27, 2025)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: "The protagonist's loyal dog bravely defends him from a pack of wolves in a thrilling climax." (The Wild Frontier)
Television Series: "In last night's episode, the detective spent the entire hour trying to dog the elusive suspect, narrowly missing him at every turn." (City Under Siege)
Music (Song Lyrics): "You ain't nothing but a hound dog, crying all the time." (Elvis Presley, "Hound Dog")
Video Games: "Players can recruit a faithful dog companion to assist them in quests and combat, providing a tactical advantage." (Game review for Epic Journeys VII, a fictional video game)
Social Media: (Tweet) "Just adopted the cutest puppy from the shelter! My heart is so full. #rescuedog #dogsofinstagram" (User @DogLoverSarah, June 29, 2025)
General Public Discourse:
"My neighbor's new dog barks all night; it's driving me crazy!"
"He's been dogging that promotion for years, working extra hours and taking on every challenging project."
"Don't be such a dog! Help me carry these groceries."
"The constant rain has really dogged our vacation plans."
10 Famous Quotes Using Dog
"A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself." (Josh Billings)
"The more I learn about people, the more I like my dog." (Mark Twain)
"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read." (Groucho Marx)
"You can always tell what kind of a person a man is by the way he treats his dog." (Unknown, often attributed to various sources like Paul McCartney or Mahatma Gandhi)
"A man's best friend is his dog." (Common proverb)
"Let sleeping dogs lie." (Proverb)
"Every dog has his day." (Proverb)
"When a man's best friend is his dog, that dog has a problem." (Edward Abbey)
"The dog that trots about finds a bone." (Proverb)
"If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went." (Will Rogers)
Etymology
The word "dog" is quite a mystery in the English language! Unlike many other animal names that have clear roots in older languages, the origin of "dog" is still debated by experts.
Here's what we do know in easy-to-understand terms:
First Known Use: The word "dog" first appeared in Old English (the language spoken in England roughly from the 5th to the 11th centuries). However, it was a pretty rare word back then. The more common and widely used word for a canine at that time was "hound" (which is related to similar words for "dog" in other Germanic languages like German "Hund" and Dutch "hond").
Original Meaning: When "dog" first appeared, it didn't refer to just any canine. It seems to have been used to describe a specific type of powerful or coarse dog, perhaps like a mastiff or bulldog. It also sometimes had a negative or insulting meaning, referring to a "mean, worthless fellow."
The Big Mystery: The really puzzling part is where "docga" (the Old English form of "dog") came from. Most animal words in English can be traced back to older Indo-European roots, but "dog" doesn't seem to have those clear connections. It's almost as if it just popped up in English.
Some theories suggest it might have been:A "pet form" or nickname for a type of dog, much like how we might shorten names today.
Related to an Old English word meaning "dark" or "swarthy," perhaps referring to a dog's color.
Connected to a West Germanic word that meant "suitable" or "useful," implying a "good/useful animal."
Possibly even an onomatopoeia, meaning it came from the sound a dog makes (like "bow-wow" or a bark).
By the 16th century, "dog" had become the common word for all domestic canines in English, pushing "hound" into a more specialized meaning (referring specifically to hunting dogs). And from England, the word "dog" was even borrowed by other European languages to describe large, powerful dogs.
So, while we know "dog" has been around since Old English and originally referred to a specific kind of canine, its ultimate family tree remains one of English's most fascinating unsolved linguistic puzzles!
Phrases + Idioms Containing Dog
Barking up the wrong tree: Pursuing a mistaken course of action; making the wrong choice.
Let sleeping dogs lie: To leave a situation undisturbed, especially one that could cause trouble if addressed.
Every dog has its day: Everyone will have a period of success or good fortune at some point.
Dog-eat-dog: Ruthlessly competitive; a situation where people are willing to harm each other to succeed.
Sick as a dog: Very ill.
Go to the dogs: To deteriorate greatly; to decline in quality or moral standards.
A dog's life: A miserable, difficult, or unhappy existence.
To dog someone's footsteps/heels: To follow closely and persistently.
Top dog: The most important or powerful person in a group or organization.
Put on the dog: To make a display of wealth or importance; to show off.
In the doghouse: In disgrace or out of favor (with someone).
Like a dog with a bone: Very persistent; refusing to give up on something.
Hair of the dog (that bit you): An alcoholic drink taken to relieve a hangover.
New trick for an old dog: A new skill or habit for an older, established person (often implies difficulty).
Love me, love my dog: If you love me, you must accept everything about me, including my faults or those I care about.
Work like a dog: To work extremely hard.
Hot dog! An exclamation of pleasure or excitement.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of dog from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
