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dhole

noun
\ ˈdōl How to pronounce dhole (audio) \

Definition of dhole

: a wild dog (Cuon alpinus) occurring from India to southern Siberia that typically hunts in packs and often preys on large animals (such as deer and antelope) Among the dhole's most distinctive features is its whistle—a high-pitched call apparently used to coordinate cooperative hunting.— Arun Venkataraman

Examples of dhole in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

 Dholes hunt cooperatively, breaking into smaller groups to surround prey animals hidden deep in the vegetation. — National Geographic, "Whistling Caterpillars And 5 More Surprisingly Musical Species," 26 Apr. 2017 For five of the seventeen predators—clouded leopard, Sunda clouded leopard, tiger, dhole (a wild Asian dog), and Ethiopian wolf— — National Geographic, "The World’s Top Predators Are Dining From Dwindling Menus," 3 Aug. 2016

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'dhole.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of dhole

circa 1827, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for dhole

perhaps from Kannada tōḷa wolf

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Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with dhole

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about dhole

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