pig

UK: /ˈpɪg/ US: /pɪg/ ,(pig)

Inflections of 'pig' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

pigs

v 3rd person singular

pigging

v pres p

pigged

v past

pigged

v past p

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

pig¹ /pɪg/   n., v., pigged, pig•ging. 
n. 

1. Animal Husbandry [countable] a short, fat mammal with hooves;
   a young swine of either sex, esp. one kept on a farm and weighing less than 120 lb. (54 kg).
2. [countable] any swine.
3. [uncountable] the flesh of this animal;
   pork.
4. [countable] one who eats too much, is greedy, or is very sloppy.
5. Slang Terms [countable] (disparaging). a police officer.

v. 

6. pig out, [no object] [Slang.] to eat too much food:
   We pigged out on pizza last night.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

pig¹  (pig), n., v., pigged, pig•ging. 
n. 

1. Animal Husbandry a young swine of either sex, esp. a domestic hog, Sus scrofa, weighing less than 120 lb. (220 kg.)
2. any wild or domestic swine.
3. the flesh of swine;
   pork.
4. a person of piglike character, behavior, or habits, as one who is gluttonous, very fat, greedy, selfish, or filthy.
5. Slang Terms a slatternly, sluttish woman.
6. Slang Terms [Disparaging.] a police officer.
7. Mechanical Engineering [Mach.] any tool or device, as a long-handled brush or scraper, used to clear the interior of a pipe or duct.
8. Metallurgy
   • an oblong mass of metal that has been run while still molten into a mold of sand or the like, esp. such a mass of iron from a blast furnace.
   • one of the molds for such masses of metal.
   • metal in the form of such masses.
   • pig iron.
9. British Terms on the pig's back, [Australian Slang.] in a fortunate position.

v.t. 

10. Metallurgy to mold (metal) into pigs.
11. Informal Terms to eat (something) quickly;
    gulp:
    He pigged three doughnuts and ran off to school.

v.i. 

12. Animal Husbandry to bring forth pigs;
    farrow.
13. pig it:
    • Idioms to live like a pig, esp. in dirt.
    • Idioms to lead a disorganized, makeshift life;
      live without plan or pattern.
14. pig out, [Slang.] to overindulge in eating:
    We pigged out on pizza last night.

• Old Norse word meaning "young, small,'' applied in Scandinavian to girls but in Old English to swine
• 1175–1225; Middle English pigge young pig, with doubled consonant appropriate to terms for smaller animals (compare dog, frog¹) but with no obvious relations; almost certainly not akin to Low German, Dutch big(ge), Middle Dutch vigghe young pig, which involve further obscurities; if Danish pige, Swedish piga maid, young girl are compared, perh.

pig²  (pig), n. [Scot. and North Eng.]

1. Scottish Terms an earthenware crock, pot, pitcher, or jar.
2. Scottish Terms potter's clay;
   earthenware as a material.

• ?
• late Middle English pygg 1400–50

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

pig / pɪɡ/ noun

1. any artiodactyl mammal of the African and Eurasian family Suidae, esp Sus scrofa (domestic pig), typically having a long head with a movable snout, a thick bristle-covered skin, and, in wild species, long curved tusks
2. a domesticated pig weighing more than 120 pounds (54 kg)
   Related adjective(s): porcine
3. a dirty, greedy, or bad-mannered person
4. the meat of swine; pork
5. a police officer
6. a mass of metal, such as iron, copper, or lead, cast into a simple shape for ease of storing or transportation
7. a mould in which such a mass of metal is formed
8. something that is difficult or unpleasant
9. an automated device propelled through a duct or pipeline to clear impediments or check for faults, leaks, etc
10. a pig in a poke ⇒ something bought or received without prior sight or knowledge
11. make a pig of oneself ⇒ to overindulge oneself
12. on the pig's back ⇒ successful; established: he's on the pig's back now

verb (pigs, pigging, pigged)

1. (intransitive) (of a sow) to give birth
2. Also: pig it (intransitive) to live in squalor
3. (transitive) to devour (food) greedily

Etymology: 13th Century pigge, of obscure origin