noun
pup
puhp
noun
1
A young dog, or the young of certain other animals such as wolves, seals, or sharks.
"The seal pup stayed close to its mother on the rocks."
"Our new puppy is just a pup, only eight weeks old."
2
A young or inexperienced person.
"He was just a pup when he started at the firm, fresh out of college."
verb
1
To give birth to pups.
"The dog pupped during the night."
How to Use Pup
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA baby animal, especially a dog, or informally a young/green person.
Common pairings
a litter of pups
young pup
Word Forms
pupped past tense, pups plural, pups singular
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The seal _____ stayed close to its mother on the rocks.
Etymology
A shortened form of puppy.