canine

[ key-nahyn ]

adjective

1. of or like a dog; relating to or characteristic of dogs:

   canine loyalty.

2. Anatomy, Zoology. of or relating to the four pointed teeth, especially prominent in dogs, situated one on each side of each jaw, next to the incisors.

noun

1. a canid, or member of the dog family Canidae.
2. a dog.
3. a canine tooth; cuspid.

canine

/ ˈkeɪnaɪn; ˈkæn- /

adjective

1. of or resembling a dog; doglike
2. of, relating to, or belonging to the Canidae, a family of mammals, including dogs, jackals, wolves, and foxes, typically having a bushy tail, erect ears, and a long muzzle: order Carnivora (carnivores)
3. of or relating to any of the four teeth, two in each jaw, situated between the incisors and the premolars

noun

1. any animal of the family Canidae
2. a canine tooth

canine

/ kā′nīn /

Adjective

1. Characteristic of or resembling dogs, wolves, or related animals.
2. Relating to any of the four pointed teeth located behind the incisors in most mammals. In carnivores, the canine teeth are adapted for cutting and tearing meat.

Noun

1. A canine tooth.

Other Words From

• ca·nin·i·ty [key-, nin, -i-tee], noun
• super·canine adjective noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of canine¹

1350–1400; Middle English canine canine tooth (< Middle French ) < Latin canīnus, equivalent to can ( is ) dog + -īnus -ine ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of canine¹

C17: from Latin canīnus, from canis dog

Example Sentences

Tim Stafford, director of canine affairs, said the organisation works hard to socialise their puppies and expose them to firework sounds through recordings.

From BBC

The thousands of visitors expected to attend the event, which runs until Sunday, can enjoy lots of other baked doubles, including a life-sized version of Queen Elizabeth I and a recreation of Dogpool, a canine character from the Deadpool & Wolverine hit movie.

From BBC

The five pathogens, as disease-causing agents are collectively called, that have become more common in polar bears, are two parasites that cause toxoplasmosis and neosporosis, two types of bacteria that cause rabbit fever and brucellosis, and the virus that causes canine distemper.

From BBC

The fact that she likens herself to an obedient canine in our conversation is fitting, then, as she also describes her changing body as a “wild-pregnant-mammal-thing” in “Lifeform,” losing “nests” of hair that resemble fur balls.

From Los Angeles Times

Vengeance Most Fowl, the pair's first full-length feature film in 19 years, will see the hapless inventor and his canine companion face their arch-enemy, the evil penguin Feathers McGraw.

From BBC

Related Words

• mutt
• pooch
• pup