# puppy

/ˈpəpi/ (US) · /pˈʌpi/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/puppy
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. young dog

noun · CEFR A1

a young dog, usually less than a year old.

For teachers: a juvenile domestic dog, specifically one that has not yet reached sexual maturity.

- The children were excited to play with the new puppy in the garden.
- The shelter requires all families adopting a puppy to attend mandatory training sessions to ensure the animal is properly socialised during its first year.

### 2. young seal or rat

noun · CEFR B2

the young of certain other animals, such as seals or rats.

For teachers: the offspring of certain mammals, most notably seals, sea lions, and rats.

- We watched a mother seal feeding her puppy on the rocks.
- Marine biologists observed the seal puppy as it made its first tentative attempts to swim in the shallow coastal waters.

### 3. an object or task

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a thing or a task, especially one that is difficult or impressive.

For teachers: a colloquial reference to an object, person, or undertaking, often used to emphasise its size, difficulty, or significance.

- This math problem is a tough puppy to solve.
- Once we get this puppy started, the entire production line should run autonomously for the rest of the afternoon.

### 4. breasts

noun · CEFR C1 · Slang · Vulgar

a slang word for a woman's breasts.

For teachers: a slang term referring to mammary glands; almost exclusively used in the plural.

- He made a rude comment about her puppies and she walked away.
- The dialogue in the film was criticised for its reliance on dated slang and crude references to 'puppies' when discussing female characters.

### 5. to give birth

verb · CEFR C2 · Technical

to give birth to young dogs.

For teachers: to bring forth whelps; the act of a female dog giving birth.

- The breeder expected the dog to puppy sometime in late March.
- The prize-winning spaniel is expected to puppy next week, and the veterinary staff has been placed on standby for any complications.

Usage: The verb is typically used in the context of professional dog breeding.

## Examples

- The family adopted a golden retriever puppy last week.
- The energetic puppy chewed on the sofa cushions while its owner was at work.
- Training a puppy requires significant patience and consistency to ensure the animal develops into a well-behaved adult dog capable of following complex commands.

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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.