noun
beagle
BEE-guhl
noun
1
A small, short-legged hound with a smooth coat, often tricolored, traditionally used for hunting hares and now popular as a friendly family pet.
"Our beagle spends most of the walk with his nose glued to the ground."
"Beagles are known for being gentle with children."
2
Informally, someone who snoops or investigates, like a detective.
"He played the office beagle, sniffing out who leaked the memo."
How to Use Beagle
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA small hound breed famous for its keen sense of smell.
Common pairings
a beagle puppy
a pack of beagles
Word Forms
beagled past tense, beagles plural, Beagles plural, beagles singular
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Our _____ spends most of the walk with his nose glued to the ground.
Etymology
Origin disputed — possibly from an Old French phrase meaning "one who keeps their mouth open," or from Middle English bedel ("beadle," an officer who enforced rules), with the sound shifting over time.