From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishdogdog1 /dɒɡ $ dɒːɡ/ ●●● S1 W1 noun [countable] 1 animalHBA a common animal with four legs, fur, and a tail. Dogs are kept as pets or trained to guard places, find drugs etc → puppy I could hear a dog barking. He's taken the dog for a walk. We used to have a dog when I was young. the most popular breed of dog2 male animalHBA a male dog, fox, or wolf → bitch3 womanINSULT informal not polite an offensive word meaning an unattractive woman4 → dog eat dog5 → be going to the dogs6 dishonest informal not polite an offensive word for an unpleasant or dishonest manYou dirty dog!7 → a dog’s life8 → make a dog’s breakfast of something9 → a dog’s dinner10 → not have a dog’s chance11 → every dog has its/his day12 → like a dog with two tails13 → a dog in the manger14 → dogs15 poor qualityBAD American English informal something that is of very poor quality 16 → dog and pony show17 → be the dog’s bollocks18 → put on the dog19 → the dogs → the hair of the dog at hair(13), → shaggy dog story, → as sick as a dog at sick1(1), → let sleeping dogs lie at sleep1(7), → the tail wagging the dog at tail1(11), → top dog, → treat someone like a dog at treat1(1)COLLOCATIONSverbshave a dog (=keep one as a pet)We have one dog and two cats.walk a dog/take a dog for a walkShe loves walking her dogs on the beach.a dog bites somebodyTheir dog had bitten a little girl on the leg.a dog barks (=makes short loud sounds)The dog barks every time someone comes to the door.a dog yaps (=barks – used of small dogs)A little dog was yapping at her heels.a dog growls (=makes a long deep angry sound)The dog growled at me as I walked towards it.a dog snarls (=shows its teeth and makes an angry sound)When a dog snarls, it is threatening attack.a dog whines (=makes a long high sound because it is unhappy or in pain)I could hear the dogs whining outside the door.a dog howls (=makes a long loud sound like a wolf)We knew something was wrong because the dogs were howling.a dog pants (=breathes quickly usually with its tongue hanging out)The dog was panting heavily beside her.a dog wags its tail (=moves its tail from side to side to show pleasure)The dog stood up and wagged his tail.ADJECTIVES/NOUN + doga pet dog (=that you keep in your house)Some owners give their pet dogs too much food.a family dog (=that belongs to a family)Labradors make a great family dog.a wild dogPacks of wild dogs roamed the countryside.a stray dog (=a pet dog that is lost)He was always bringing home stray dogs.a guide dog (=trained to guide a blind person)No dogs except guide dogs are allowed in the store.a guard dog (=trained to guard a building)The guard dog growled at him.a police dog (=trained to help the police)Police dogs helped in the search for the missing child.a sniffer dog British English (=trained to find drugs or bombs)Police and sniffer dogs have become a regular presence at the airport.dog + NOUNdog fooda can of dog fooda dog ownerDog owners must be responsible for controlling their animals.a dog lover (=someone who loves dogs)Britain is a nation of dog lovers.a dog handler (=someone whose job is training and working with dogs)Dog handlers decided that the dog was dangerous and should be shot.a dog show (=competition for the best dog)Crufts is the largest dog show in the world.phrasesa breed of dog (=a type of dog)It is one of the most fashionable breeds of dog.a pack of dogs (=a group of wild dogs or stray dogs)There are packs of wild dogs in the mountains.Good dog! (=said to a dog when it obeys you)Sit! Good dog!Beware of the dog! (=a sign warning people that there is a dog inside a place)There was a sign on the gate saying 'Beware of the dog!'.
Examples from the Corpus
dog• It was a dog of a movie.• Most of the women he goes out with are dogs.• the family dogdogdog2 ●○○ verb (dogged, dogging) [transitive] 1 PROBLEMif a problem or bad luck dogs you, it causes trouble for a long time He has been dogged by injury all season.2 FOLLOWto follow close behind someone→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
dog• Plans for the new campus have been dogged by controversy from the start.• Clinton also remains dogged by his avoidance of the draft three decades ago.• The fifty nine year old singer who'd been dogged by ill health died at his home in Arbroath on Monday.• The team has been dogged by injury all season.• All these advances have been real, even when dogged by the ills of which I told you.• Persistent colds, coughs and a temperature have dogged her for the last year.• The press dogged him relentlessly.• Zambia had none of the heritage of war and violence that dogged, say, Kenya or Zimbabwe.• But the distrust their action engendered has dogged the investigation since.From Longman Business Dictionarydogdog /dɒgdɒːg/ noun [countable]MARKETING in the GROWTH/SHARE MATRIX, a product with low market share in a low-growth marketOrigin dog1 Old English docga 