noun Uncommon

hound

hownd

Hound (noun) means a dog, especially a breed bred for hunting by scent or sight. Example: “The hound picked up the scent and bolted into the woods.”

noun

A dog, especially a breed bred for hunting by scent or sight.

"The hound picked up the scent and bolted into the woods."

A person obsessively devoted to pursuing something (often in compounds).

"He's a real bargain hound at the flea market."

"She's a news hound, always chasing the next scoop."

verb

To pursue or harass someone relentlessly.

"Reporters hounded the actor for a comment outside the courthouse."

"Debt collectors kept hounding him with calls."

How to use hound

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA hunting dog, or (as a verb) to pester someone relentlessly, or (as a suffix) someone fixated on chasing a particular thing.

Common pairings

hound someone for a pack of hounds news hound

Word forms

hounded past tense, hounds plural, hounds plural, hounds singular

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The _____ picked up the scent and bolted into the woods.

Etymology

From Old English hund, "dog." In medieval English hound was the everyday word for dog, while "dog" referred to a bulldog-like breed — the two swapped roles by the 1500s.

Origin: Old English · First attested 1500

Class of 1500 hound joined the language around 1500.

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Synonyms

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dog hunt trace heel cad blackguard bounder hound dog

Related words

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Rhymes for hound

pound wound sound bound found round mound abound ground around rebound impound

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Frequently asked questions

What does “hound” mean?

The word “hound” means a dog, especially a breed bred for hunting by scent or sight. In plain terms, a hunting dog, or (as a verb) to pester someone relentlessly, or (as a suffix) someone fixated on chasing a particular thing.

How do you pronounce “hound”?

“Hound” is pronounced hownd (/haʊnd/ in IPA).

How do you use “hound” in a sentence?

Here is “hound” used in a sentence: “The hound picked up the scent and bolted into the woods.”

What part of speech is “hound”?

Depending on how it is used, “hound” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “hound” come from?

The word “hound” dates back to around 1500 and comes from Old English. From Old English hund, "dog." In medieval English hound was the everyday word for dog, while "dog" referred to a bulldog-like breed — the two swapped roles by the 1500s.

Is “hound” a common word?

“Hound” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “hound” have?

“Hound” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a dog, especially a breed bred for hunting by scent or sight.

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