frog
frog
Frog (noun) means a small tailless amphibian with long hind legs built for jumping and swimming. Example: “At night we could hear every frog in the marsh croaking loudly.”
noun
1
A small tailless amphibian with long hind legs built for jumping and swimming.
"At night we could hear every frog in the marsh croaking loudly."
"The children caught a tiny frog and let it go again."
"A frog leapt into the pond as we walked past."
2
The part of a violin or similar bow that the player grips, holding the horsehair in place.
"Hold the frog lightly, with your thumb curled under the bow."
"The violinist tightened the hair by turning a screw at the frog."
"The frog of the bow was carved from ebony."
3
Informal and often considered offensive: a French person.
"The slang term "frog" for a French person is dated and can cause offense."
verb
1
Informal: to undo the stitches of a knitted item in order to fix a mistake or reuse the yarn.
"She had to frog the scarf because the pattern went wrong halfway."
"Don't be afraid to frog a few rows if the stitches look uneven."
"I had to frog my whole sweater after miscounting the rows."
How to use frog
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMainly the small jumping amphibian; also a part of a violin bow, or (offensive slang) a French person.
When to use it
The nickname for a French person is an ethnic slur in some contexts — avoid it.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
frog in your throat
leap like a frog
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Word forms
- Plural
- frogs
- Third person singular
- frogs
- Past tense
- frogged
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
At night we could hear every _____ in the marsh croaking loudly.
Etymology
From Old English frocga, going back to a Proto-West Germanic word for the animal.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for frog
See all rhymes for frog →Frequently asked questions
What does “frog” mean?
The word “frog” means a small tailless amphibian with long hind legs built for jumping and swimming. In plain terms, mainly the small jumping amphibian; also a part of a violin bow, or (offensive slang) a French person.
How do you pronounce “frog”?
“Frog” is pronounced frog (/fɹɒɡ/ in IPA).
How do you use “frog” in a sentence?
Here is “frog” used in a sentence: “A frog leapt into the pond as we walked past.”
What part of speech is “frog”?
Depending on how it is used, “frog” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “frog” come from?
The word “frog” comes from Old English. From Old English frocga, going back to a Proto-West Germanic word for the animal.
Is “frog” a common word?
“Frog” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “frog” have?
“Frog” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a small tailless amphibian with long hind legs built for jumping and swimming.
What is the difference between a "frog" and a "toad"?
Frogs typically have smooth, moist skin and long legs built for jumping, and they usually live in or near water. Toads tend to have drier, bumpier skin and shorter legs and can live farther from water; scientifically, all toads are actually a type of frog.
Why do knitters say "frog" when they unravel stitches?
In knitting, to "frog" means to rip out stitches in order to fix a mistake or reuse the yarn. The term is commonly said to come from the phrase "rip it, rip it," which resembles a frog's croak.
What is the "frog" on a violin bow?
The "frog" is the part at the lower end of a violin or similar bow that the player grips and that holds the horsehair in place. Turning a small screw in the frog tightens or loosens the tension of the hair.
