canine
noun
ca·nine
| \ ˈkā-ˌnīn
, British also ˈka-\
, British also ˈka-\
Definition of canine
(Entry 1 of 2)
1
[ Middle English, from Latin (dens) caninus canine tooth ]
: a conical pointed tooth
especially
: one situated between the lateral incisor and the first premolar — see tooth illustration
canine
adjectiveDefinition of canine (Entry 2 of 2)
1
: of or resembling that of a dog
canine loyalty
2
: of or relating to dogs or to the family (Canidae) including the canids
canine diseases
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Synonyms for canine
Synonyms: Noun
dog, doggy (or doggie), hound, pooch, tyke (also tike)
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Examples of canine in a Sentence
Noun
in the minds of some, the winner of this prestigious dog show has a fair claim to the title of King of the CaninesRecent Examples on the Web: Noun
Recently, more restaurants have started catering (literally) to canines via dedicated dog menus that go beyond sneaking table scraps to little Bella. — Allyson Reedy, The Know, "These dog-friendly Colorado restaurants have special menus just for your pup," 7 Aug. 2019 Three months after arriving at the shelter, Lionheart left the Richmond SPCA as a happy, energetic, healthy canine with a forever family. — Kelli Bender, PEOPLE.com, "Severely Matted Dog that Spent Two Years Living Under a Bed Gets Life-Changing Makeover," 25 July 2019 The search included helicopters, canines, rescuers on horseback and experienced hikers searching trails and ravines. — Shaq Davis, azcentral, "Arizona searchers find remains of hiker who dialed for help in February," 10 July 2019 The lawsuit, filed in Cook County Circuit Court, alleges that AGB provided insufficient training for guards and canines and lacked the necessary licensure and certifications. — Gregory Pratt, chicagotribune.com, "‘There was just no love on the platform’: Sister of woman killed by CTA train questions actions of bystanders, security guard," 2 July 2019 But set off a firecracker nearby and many canines are convinced the apocalypse has begun. — Scott Craven, azcentral, "Keep your pets calm, safe Fourth of July with these tips for when the fireworks start," 2 July 2019 Expect dancing canines, a breed show, creative grooming and more at Houston World Series of Dog Shows. — Marcy De Luna, Houston Chronicle, "'Game of Thrones'-themed dog? Outlandish grooming featured at Houston World Series of Dog Shows," 17 June 2019 Their strong jaws and sharp canines that grow up to 20 inches are their weapons, and have been known to chomp through boats, crocodiles, and other animals. — Erin Florio, Condé Nast Traveler, "Tourist Killed by Hippo Near Kenya's Lake Naivasha," 13 Aug. 2018 Evans initially told investigators that Eason shot her beloved dog, Nugget, in the woods on April 29 after the canine allegedly attacked their 2-year-old daughter, Ensley. — Cydney Henderson, USA TODAY, "Police: ‘Teen Mom 2’ star Jenelle Evans 'fabricated' dog killing story for 'publicity'," 11 July 2019Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective
Cats like the saber-tooth, lion, and cougar hunted in forests, while canine species like the dire wolves hunted bison and horses in open fields. — Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, "Fossilized teeth of Ice Age predators yield clues to why certain species survived," 6 Aug. 2019 On Instagram on Thursday, the actress shared a photo of herself reuniting with the canine star of the film, who joined his human cast members on the premiere’s red carpet. — Helen Murphy, PEOPLE.com, "Amanda Seyfried Glows in Gorgeous Yellow Gown on The Art of Racing in the Rain Red Carpet," 2 Aug. 2019 Fonseca was known for his depictions of Coyote, a canine trickster who materializes in all manner of very human settings. — Los Angeles Times, "Datebook: A group show marks five years of exhibitions at Park View / Paul Soto," 1 Aug. 2019 For that reason, Scoop Soldiers tries to keep technicians in the same areas to build those canine-human relationships. — Kathleen Christiansen, orlandosentinel.com, "Professional pooper scoopers report for dooty in Orlando," 26 July 2019 He's been with TSA for five years and at 9 is qualified to retire from the canine bomb-sniffing force. — Dallas News, "Meet two very good boys sniffing explosives at DFW Airport and keeping fliers safe from bad guys," 24 July 2019 Without them, the state’s canine population would plummet. — Bob Shaw, Twin Cities, "‘There is such a thing as a bad dog.’ Surge in imported pets brings risks for MN buyers," 23 July 2019 Eradication of canine rabies in a dog population, which is how human deaths drop to zero, requires a long-term commitment. — James Gorman, New York Times, "Rabies Kills Tens of Thousands Yearly. Vaccinating Dogs Could Stop It.," 22 July 2019 Wednesday’s game First pitch: 7:05 p.m. Wet Nose Wednesday: A Wet Nose Wednesday ticket package includes general admission and a dog toy for you and your canine companion. — Evan Dudley, al, "Check out Barons’ promotions for 9-game homestand starting tonight," 18 July 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'canine.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for canine
canine
noun
English Language Learners Definition of canine
(Entry 1 of 2)
formal
: a dog
: a pointed tooth
canine
adjectiveEnglish Language Learners Definition of canine (Entry 2 of 2)
: of or relating to dogs
See the full definition for canine in the English Language Learners Dictionary
canine
noun
ca·nine
| \ ˈkā-ˌnīn
\
\
Kids Definition of canine
(Entry 1 of 2)
1
: a pointed tooth next to the incisors
2
: a domestic dog or a related animal (as a wolf or fox)
canine
adjective