puppy
PUH-pee
Puppy (noun) means a young dog, usually under a year or so old. Example: “The puppy wagged its tail and ran to greet us at the gate.”
noun
1
A young dog, usually under a year or so old.
"The puppy wagged its tail and ran to greet us at the gate."
"The puppy chewed through another pair of shoes."
"They adopted a golden retriever puppy from the shelter."
2
Informal: any object or thing, often one that is troublesome or impressive.
"I finally got this old puppy of a printer working again."
"Wait until you see the speakers in the car, because this puppy is loud!"
"This puppy can tow up to three tons."
How to use puppy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA baby dog, or casually, a stand-in word for "thing."
When to use it
The "any object" sense ("grab that puppy") is very informal.
Common pairings
puppy love
house-train a puppy
puppy eyes
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Word forms
- Plural
- puppies
- Third person singular
- puppies
- Past tense
- puppied
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ wagged its tail and ran to greet us at the gate.
Etymology
Probably from Old French poupée ("doll, puppet") — the same root as puppet — since small pet dogs were once seen as living toys.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for puppy
See all rhymes for puppy →Frequently asked questions
What does “puppy” mean?
The word “puppy” means a young dog, usually under a year or so old. In plain terms, a baby dog, or casually, a stand-in word for "thing.".
How do you pronounce “puppy”?
“Puppy” is pronounced PUH-pee (/ˈpʌpi/ in IPA).
How do you use “puppy” in a sentence?
Here is “puppy” used in a sentence: “The puppy chewed through another pair of shoes.”
What part of speech is “puppy”?
“Puppy” is a noun.
Where does the word “puppy” come from?
The word “puppy” comes from Old French. Probably from Old French poupée ("doll, puppet") — the same root as puppet — since small pet dogs were once seen as living toys.
Is “puppy” a common word?
“Puppy” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “puppy” have?
“Puppy” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a young dog, usually under a year or so old.
What is the difference between a "puppy" and a "dog"?
A puppy is simply a young dog, usually under a year or so old, so every puppy is a dog but not every dog is a puppy. Once a dog reaches adulthood, "puppy" no longer strictly applies, though owners often keep using it affectionately.
How long is a dog considered a puppy?
A dog is generally considered a puppy until it is around a year old, though the exact point varies — larger breeds mature more slowly and may be called puppies a little longer. After that, it is an adult dog.
What is the difference between "puppy" and "pup"?
"Pup" is a shortened, more casual form of "puppy" and means the same thing when talking about dogs. "Pup" is also the standard term for the young of several other animals, such as seals and wolves, whereas "puppy" is reserved for dogs.
