Library / English Dictionary

HOUND

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Any of several breeds of dog used for hunting typically having large drooping ears

Synonyms:

hound; hound dog

Classified under:

Nouns denoting animals

Hypernyms ("hound" is a kind of...):

hunting dog (a dog used in hunting game)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "hound"):

Weimaraner (large breed of hound having a smooth greyish coat; originated in Germany)

staghound (a large heavy hound formerly used in hunting stags and other large game; similar to but larger than a foxhound)

deerhound; Scottish deerhound (very large and tall rough-coated dog bred for hunting deer; known as the royal dog of Scotland)

gazelle hound; Saluki (old breed of tall swift keen-eyed hunting dogs resembling greyhounds; from Egypt and southwestern Asia)

otter hound; otterhound (hardy British hound having long pendulous ears and a thick coarse shaggy coat with an oily undercoat; bred for hunting otters)

elkhound; Norwegian elkhound (breed of compact medium-sized dog with a heavy grey coat developed in Norway for hunting elk)

Ibizan hound; Ibizan Podenco (breed of slender agile medium-sized hound found chiefly in the Balearic Islands; said to have been bred originally by the Pharaohs of ancient Egypt)

greyhound (a tall slender dog of an ancient breed noted for swiftness and keen sight; used as a racing dog)

wolfhound (the largest breed of dogs; formerly used to hunt wolves)

redbone (a speedy red or red-and-tan American hound)

Plott hound (a brindle-coated American hound used in hunting bears and wild boars)

harrier (a hound that resembles a foxhound but is smaller; used to hunt rabbits)

foxhound (medium-sized glossy-coated hounds developed for hunting foxes)

coonhound (any of several breeds of hound developed for hunting raccoons)

boarhound (large hound used in hunting wild boars)

bluetick (a very fast American hound; white mottled with bluish grey)

bloodhound; sleuthhound (a breed of large powerful hound of European origin having very acute smell and used in tracking)

beagle (a small short-legged smooth-coated breed of hound)

basset; basset hound (smooth-haired breed of hound with short legs and long ears)

Afghan; Afghan hound (tall graceful breed of hound with a long silky coat; native to the Near East)

Holonyms ("hound" is a member of...):

pack (a group of hunting animals)

Derivation:

hound (pursue or chase relentlessly)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Someone who is morally reprehensible

Example:

you dirty dog

Synonyms:

blackguard; bounder; cad; dog; heel; hound

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Hypernyms ("hound" is a kind of...):

scoundrel; villain (a wicked or evil person; someone who does evil deliberately)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "hound"):

perisher (bounder)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Pursue or chase relentlessly

Example:

the detectives hounded the suspect until they found him

Synonyms:

hound; hunt; trace

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Hypernyms (to "hound" is one way to...):

chase; chase after; dog; give chase; go after; tag; tail; track; trail (go after with the intent to catch)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "hound"):

ferret (hound or harry relentlessly)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

hound (any of several breeds of dog used for hunting typically having large drooping ears)

Credits

 Context examples: 

The Black and Tan Coonhound is a large, powerful working hound with long pendent ears.

(Black and Tan Coonhound, NCI Thesaurus)

“The old hound is the best when all is said,” quoth the bailiff of Southampton, as they made back for the roadway.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

It was a deer-hound rushing upon him.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

But surely you don’t go to hounds, Charles?

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I said he was a hound, which, at the moment, was a great satisfaction to me.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

The Bloodhound is a powerful, massive hound with a long muzzle, drooping ears, and loose, wrinkled skin.

(Bloodhound, NCI Thesaurus)

The Pharaoh Hound is an athletic sight hound.

(Pharaoh Hound, NCI Thesaurus)

The Ibizan Hound is an agile, deer-like, athletic hound that has a long, arched neck, long wedge-shaped head, and very large, triangular ears which stand up when the dog is alert.

(Ibizan Hound, NCI Thesaurus)

The Foxhound is a medium-sized glossy-coated hound developed for hunting foxes.

(Foxhound, NCI Thesaurus)

We had hardly reached the hall when we heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)