HOUND

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does hound mean? 

• HOUND (noun)
  The noun HOUND has 2 senses:

1. any of several breeds of dog used for hunting typically having large drooping ears

2. someone who is morally reprehensible

  Familiarity information: HOUND used as a noun is rare.

• HOUND (verb)
  The verb HOUND has 1 sense:

1. pursue or chase relentlessly

  Familiarity information: HOUND used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• HOUND (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

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

Classified under:

Nouns denoting animals

Synonyms:

hound; hound dog

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

hunting dog (a dog used in hunting game)

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

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

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)

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

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

blackguard; bounder; cad; dog; heel; hound

Context example:

you dirty dog

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)

• HOUND (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they hound    ... he / she / it hounds   
Past simple: hounded   
Past participle: hounded   
-ing form: hounding   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Pursue or chase relentlessly

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

hound; hunt; trace

Context example:

the detectives hounded the suspect until they found him

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)

 Context examples 

This drunken hound, that he should dare to raise his hand to her, whose boots he was not worthy to lick!

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

Like many other pack hounds, the feet are webbed for swimming.

(Otterhound, NCI Thesaurus)

I glared at the intrusive vicar with no very friendly eyes; but Holmes took his pipe from his lips and sat up in his chair like an old hound who hears the view-halloa.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

This is the black-hearted hound's account-book.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

He was very fat, but had apparently at some time been much fatter, so that the skin hung about his face in loose pouches, like the cheeks of a blood-hound.

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

Some hounds share the distinct ability to produce a unique sound known as baying.

(Hound Breed, NCI Thesaurus)

It is taller than most hounds.

(American Foxhound, NCI Thesaurus)

If left natural the ears develop somewhat like a hound.

(Doberman Pinscher, NCI Thesaurus)

A muscular hunting hound with a short, hard coat, usually lemon and white, red and white, or white and tan.

(Harrier, NCI Thesaurus)

“When the hounds are following me, I can spring into a tree and save myself.” “Is that all?” said the fox.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)