# hound

/ˈhaʊnd/ (US) · /hˈaʊnd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/hound
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. hunting dog

noun · CEFR B1

a dog with a very good sense of smell that is trained to hunt other animals.

For teachers: a dog belonging to any of several breeds typically used for hunting by scent or sight.

- The hunter followed his hound through the thick forest to find the deer.
- The pack of hounds picked up the scent near the riverbank and led the search party deep into the valley.

### 2. an enthusiast or seeker

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

someone who is very interested in finding or collecting a specific thing.

For teachers: an enthusiast or person who persistently seeks something, often used in compounds like 'glory-hound' or 'news-hound'.

- As a dedicated bargain hound, she spent every Saturday morning at garage sales.
- The veteran news hound was the first to arrive at the courthouse, hoping for an exclusive interview with the defendant.

### 3. nautical mast support

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

parts of a ship's mast that help hold up the top sections.

For teachers: Projections at the masthead that serve as a support for the trestletrees.

- The sailors checked the hounds of the mast for any signs of rot.
- During the refit, the shipwright discovered significant structural fatigue in the hounds, requiring the entire foremast to be lowered for repair.

### 4. to harass

verb · CEFR B2

to bother or chase someone constantly to get what you want.

For teachers: to harass, pester, or pursue someone relentlessly.

- Reporters continued to hound the politician for an answer about the new tax.
- Debt collectors began to hound the family with daily phone calls and formal letters, despite their requests for a payment plan.

### 5. to set dogs upon

verb · CEFR C2 · Archaic

to encourage dogs to chase or attack something.

For teachers: to urge on or set dogs upon a quarry during a hunt.

- In the old stories, the king would hound his dogs after the white deer.
- The huntsman was known for his ability to hound his pack with such precision that no prey could escape the initial pursuit.

## Examples

- The reporters continue to hound the celebrity for an interview.
- Debt collectors began to hound him with daily phone calls and letters after he missed several payments.
- The investigative journalist spent months hounding government officials for the release of the classified documents, eventually forcing a public statement.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.