ENGLISH
REFERENCE

dog

n. · v. · adj.
US //ˈdɔɡ// UK //dˈɒɡ// dog
  1. 1 the animal (n.)
    A1 Beginner

    a common animal with four legs and a tail, often kept as a pet or used for work.

    a domesticated carnivorous mammal of the family Canidae, typically kept as a pet, for guarding, or for hunting.

    Example

    The neighbor's dog barks every time someone walks past the garden gate.

    Example

    While some breeds are specifically developed for their tracking abilities, the common domestic dog primarily serves as a companion in urban environments.
  2. 2 something of poor quality (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    something that is a failure or does not work well.

    an item, project, or investment that performs poorly or is of noticeably inferior quality.

    Example

    That old car was a total dog and broke down every week.

    Example

    The studio realized the film was a dog long before its release, but they were already committed to a massive marketing campaign.
Show 5 more sensesShow fewer
  1. 3 a person (n.)
    C1 Advanced Slang Informal

    a way to describe a person, often used between friends or as an insult.

    a term of address for a man, ranging from affectionate camaraderie to a derogatory description of an unattractive or contemptible person.

    Example

    What's up, dog? I haven't seen you since the summer.

    Example

    He was known as a lucky dog in the office, always managing to secure the best accounts without much apparent effort.
  2. 4 feet (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Informal Slang

    a slang word for your feet.

    a plural slang reference to human feet.

    Example

    My dogs are barking after walking around the city all day.

    Example

    After twelve hours on the hospital floor, the nurse sat down and complained that her dogs were killing her.
  3. 5 mechanical tool (n.)
    C1 Advanced Technical

    a metal tool or part used to hold something in place.

    a mechanical device, such as a heavy metal hook or bar, used for gripping, fastening, or holding an object.

    Example

    The worker used a steel dog to secure the hatch on the ship.

    Example

    The carpenter engaged the bench dog to hold the timber steady while he planed the surface to a smooth finish.
  4. 6 to follow closely (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to follow someone closely and persistently, often in a way that is annoying.

    to follow or track someone or something persistently and relentlessly.

    Example

    Rumors of the scandal continued to dog the politician throughout the election.

    Example

    Technical failures continued to dog the project, eventually forcing the lead engineer to request a complete redesign of the cooling system.
  5. 7 very bad (adj.)
    C1 Advanced Slang

    of very poor quality; bad.

    denoting something of extremely low quality or standard.

    Example

    That was a dog performance and the audience hated it.

    Example

    The critics dismissed the play as a dog production, citing the amateurish set design and the lead actor's wooden delivery.
Word family
Idioms31 entries

© 2026 English Reference