pup

The word “pup” means a young dog, or the young of certain other animals such as wolves, seals, or sharks. In plain terms, a baby animal, especially a dog, or informally a young/green person.

“Pup” is pronounced puhp (/pʌp/ in IPA).

Here is “pup” used in a sentence: “The seal pup stayed close to its mother on the rocks.”

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

“Pup” is an uncommon word in modern English.

“Pup” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a young dog, or the young of certain other animals such as wolves, seals, or sharks.

Pup and puppy both refer to a young dog, but pup is the shorter, slightly more informal form and is also used more broadly for the young of other animals like wolves, seals, and sharks. Puppy is used almost exclusively for young dogs.

Yes, pup is commonly used for the young of seals, wolves, and even sharks, not just domestic dogs. This makes it a more general term than puppy, which is mainly reserved for young dogs.

When applied to a person, pup is an informal way of describing someone young or inexperienced, often with a mildly dismissive or affectionate tone. It implies the person still has much to learn, much like a young animal.