canine

1 of 2

noun

ca·nine ˈkā-ˌnīn

British also ˈka-

Synonyms of canine next

[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

: dog sense 1a

broadly : canid

canine

2 of 2

adjective

: of or resembling that of a dog

canine loyalty

: of or relating to dogs or to the family (Canidae) including the canids

canine diseases

Did you know?

Dogs are prized for their talents and intelligence but aren't always given credit for their independence. Instead, tales of canine devotion and attachment are legendary; the old Lassie and Rin-Tin-Tin television series featured at least one heroic act of devotion per show. So we often hear people described as having "doglike devotion" or "doglike loyalty". But canine itself, unlike doglike, usually refers to four-legged creatures. Canine is not only an adjective but also a noun. Dogs and their relatives in the Canidae family—the wolves, jackals, foxes, and coyotes—are often called canines. And so are those two slightly pointed teeth a bit to the right and left of your front teeth.

Example Sentences

Noun in the minds of some, the winner of this prestigious dog show has a fair claim to the title of King of the Canines

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Hippos are powerful animals whose canine teeth, used for fighting off predators or other hippos, can reach 20 inches in length. —

Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY, 16 Dec. 2022 This powder also contains antioxidants, which work to promote a strong immune system, which keeps your canine in good health. —

Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 23 Oct. 2022 Pangurban would have had long, blade-like canine teeth for hunting animals like camels, early horses, and the last North American primates. —

Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Oct. 2022 Javelinas have tusks and large canine teeth that can cause puncture wounds, Hart said. —

Angela Cordoba Perez, The Arizona Republic, 7 Sep. 2022 One indication that Sahelanthropus was a human ancestor is that the Toumaï skull has relatively small canine teeth. —

Tom Metcalfe, NBC News, 24 Aug. 2022 This is a small, vicious instrument with tiny, triangular, bent tines that look like canine teeth sticking out to rip the kernels from the cob. —

Jacobina Martin, Washington Post, 23 Aug. 2022 The team’s findings confirmed that some aspects of canine behavior do seem quite heritable—and sometimes even echo kennel-club dogma. —

Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 28 Apr. 2022 On Thursday, New York's Plainville Fire Department received a call about a curious canine that broke away from its owner to chase geese out into the middle of the frozen Seneca River in Lysander, according to a Facebook post from the department. —

PEOPLE.com, 14 Jan. 2022

Adjective

This paper describes a methodology for measuring and assessing changes in canine oral malodor with the intent that it can be used to evaluate products designed to make pets' breath more acceptable to their owners. —

Ncbi Rofl, Discover Magazine, 25 Apr. 2011 Omega fatty acids and antioxidants combat joint problems, skin concerns, hair loss, and immune system deterioration while avoiding most canine allergies by eliminating corn and wheat ingredients. —

Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 23 Oct. 2022 In this study, the prevalence of canine cognitive dysfunction among all the dogs, young and old, was 1.4 percent. —

Jan Hoffman, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2022 While emphasis has been placed on dog-friendly places, many welcome non-canine companions, too. —

Paul Rubio, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Apr. 2022 There are also canine t-shirts and jerseys emblazoned with the artist’s logo. —

Zoe Sottile, CNN, 19 Nov. 2022 Pet parents can check on their pooches' health status, based on data from the tracker and console, on the Joipaw app, which also offers warnings when anything out of the ordinary is detected — like the early signs of canine dementia or joint issues. —

People Staff, Peoplemag, 8 Nov. 2022 And maybe, just maybe, a fun and furry, cute and cuddly canine companion is just what your partner needs to make winter, and life year-round, a little less heavy and a lot more tolerable. —

Wayne And Wanda, Anchorage Daily News, 1 Nov. 2022 In this study, the prevalence of canine cognitive dysfunction among all the dogs, young and old, was 1.4%. —

Jan Hoffman, BostonGlobe.com, 27 Aug. 2022 See More

These 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.