Dogs

From the verb dog: (⇒ conjugate)

dogs is: ⓘ

v 3rd person singular

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

Dogs / dɒɡz/ noun

1. Isle of Dogs ⇒ a district in the East End of London, bounded on three sides by the River Thames, and a focus of major office development (Canary Wharf) in recent years

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

dog /dɔg, dɑg/   n., v., dogged, dog•ging. 
n. [countable]

1. Dog and Cat Breeds a common four-legged animal kept as a pet and bred in many varieties.
2. Mammals a wild four-legged animal related to this, such as the wolf.
3. a despicable man or youth:
   What a dirty dog he is, leaving you like that!
4. Informal Terms a fellow:
   He's a lucky dog.
5. Slang Terms dogs, [plural] feet:
   My dogs are killing me.
6. Slang Terms something worthless or of extremely poor quality:
   That movie was a dog.
7. [Slang.] a very unattractive person.

v. [~ + object]

8. to follow closely like a dog;
   pursue:
   The agency was dogged by complaints.

Idioms

9. Idioms go to the dogs, to go to a worse state or condition;
   deteriorate;
   degenerate.
10. Idioms let sleeping dogs lie, to leave an existing situation alone rather than risk doing something to make it worse.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

dog  (dôg, dog), n., v., dogged, dog•ging. 
n. 

1. a domesticated canid, Canis familiaris, bred in many varieties.
2. Mammals any carnivore of the dogfamily Canidae, having prominent canine teeth and, in the wild state, a long and slender muzzle, a deep-chested muscular body, a bushy tail, and large, erect ears. Cf. canid.
3. the male of such an animal.
4. any of various animals resembling a dog.
5. a despicable man or youth.
6. Informal Terms a fellow in general:
   a lucky dog.
7. Slang Terms dogs, feet.
8. Slang Terms
   • something worthless or of extremely poor quality:
     That used car you bought is a dog.
   • an utter failure;
     flop:
     Critics say his new play is a dog.
9. [Slang.] an ugly, boring, or crude person.
10. [Slang.] See hot dog. 
11. Slang Terms (cap.) [Astron.] either of two constellations, Canis Major or Canis Minor.
12. [Mach.]
    • Mechanical Engineering any of various mechanical devices, as for gripping or holding something.
    • Mechanical Engineering a projection on a moving part for moving steadily or for tripping another part with which it engages.
13. Metallurgy Also called gripper, nipper. a device on a drawbench for drawing the work through the die.
14. a cramp binding together two timbers.
15. Mechanical Engineering an iron bar driven into a stone or timber to provide a means of lifting it.
16. an andiron;
    firedog.
17. Meteorology a sundog or fogdog.
18. Telecommunications a word formerly used in communications to represent the letter D.
19. Idioms go to the dogs, [Informal.] to deteriorate;
    degenerate morally or physically:
    This neighborhood is going to the dogs.
20. Idioms lead a dog's life, to have an unhappy or harassed existence:
    He maintained that he led a dog's life in the army.
21. Idioms let sleeping dogs lie, to refrain from action that would alter an existing situation for fear of causing greater problems or complexities.
22. Idioms put on the dog, [Informal.] to assume an attitude of wealth or importance;
    put on airs.

v.t. 

23. to follow or track like a dog, esp. with hostile intent;
    hound.
24. to drive or chase with a dog or dogs.
25. [Mach.] to fasten with dogs.
26. dog it, [Informal.]
    • to shirk one's responsibility;
      loaf on the job.
    • to retreat, flee, renege, etc.:
      a sponsor who dogged it when needed most.

• Middle English dogge, Old English docga bef. 1050

dog′less, adj. 
dog′like′, adj. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

dogs / dɒɡz/ noun:plural

1. the dogs ⇒ greyhound racing
2. the feet
3. goods with a low market share, which are unlikely to yield substantial profits
4. go to the dogs ⇒ to go to ruin physically or morally
5. let sleeping dogs lie ⇒ to leave things undisturbed
6. throw someone to the dogs ⇒ to abandon someone to criticism or attack

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

dog / dɒɡ/ noun

1. a domesticated canine mammal, Canis familiaris, occurring in many breeds that show a great variety in size and form
2. any other carnivore of the family Canidae, such as the dingo and coyote
3. the male of animals of the dog family
4. (modifier) spurious, inferior, or useless
5. a mechanical device for gripping or holding, esp one of the axial slots by which gear wheels or shafts are engaged to transmit torque
6. a fellow; chap
7. a man or boy regarded as unpleasant, contemptible, or wretched
8. an unattractive or boring girl or woman
9. something unsatisfactory or inferior
10. short for firedog
11. any of various atmospheric phenomena
    See sundog
12. a dog's chance ⇒ no chance at all
13. a dog's dinner, a dog's breakfast ⇒ something that is messy or bungled
14. a dog's life ⇒ a wretched existence
15. dog eat dog ⇒ ruthless competition or self-interest
16. like a dog's dinner ⇒ dressed smartly or ostentatiously
17. put on the dog ⇒ to behave or dress in an ostentatious or showy manner

verb (dogs, dogging, dogged)(transitive)

1. to pursue or follow after like a dog
2. to trouble; plague
3. to chase with a dog or dogs
4. to grip, hold, or secure by a mechanical device

adverb

1. (usually in combination) thoroughly; utterly: dog-tired

Etymology: Old English docga, of obscure origin