# pup

/ˈpəp/ (US) · /pˈʌp/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/pup
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. young animal

noun · CEFR A2

a young dog, wolf, seal, or shark.

For teachers: the young of certain mammals, specifically canines, pinnipeds, and some sharks.

- The seal pup stayed close to its mother on the icy beach.
- Biologists observed the wolf pup exploring the perimeter of the den while the rest of the pack was away hunting.

### 2. cute dog

noun · CEFR B1 · Informal

a cute or friendly dog, even if it is already an adult.

For teachers: an affectionate or informal term for a domestic dog of any age.

- He took his old pup for a slow walk in the park.
- Even at ten years old, the golden retriever acted like a energetic pup whenever someone grabbed the tennis ball.

### 4. plant shoot

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a small new plant growing from the side of a larger one.

For teachers: a lateral shoot or offset from a parent plant used for vegetative propagation.

- You can grow a new aloe plant by carefully removing a pup from the base.
- The gardener waited until the bromeliad pup reached a third of the parent's size before attempting to pot it independently.

### 5. to give birth

verb · CEFR C1 · Technical

to give birth to young animals like dogs or seals.

For teachers: to bring forth young; used specifically of animals whose offspring are called pups.

- The seals usually pup on these remote islands during the spring.
- The documentary crew spent three weeks filming the colony as the females began to pup along the rocky shoreline.

## Examples

- The golden retriever had a litter of six pups.
- We visited the animal shelter to see if any pups were available for adoption this weekend.
- Marine biologists monitored the beach closely during the breeding season to ensure the seal pups were not disturbed by tourists or local boat traffic.

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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.