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dog

dog

2 9.9
A small metal part that fits into a wheel to let it move one way
  • noun
  • /dɔg/
  • Specialized
: trinquete
  • To secure the lid, he used a dog that fitted perfectly into the notch of the mechanism.

Examples

  • Adjusting the dog on the machine allowed for smoother operation and prevented any backward movement.

  • The engineer installed a new dog to ensure the wheel would only turn in one direction.

  • You gotta fix this dog door.

  • There was a metal dog box in the truck bed.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • The dog catcher's in there.

  • Do you have any idea how good a chili cheese dog is?

  • A dog latch locking mechanism used in this company's connectors has been designed to assure a positive mechanical lock.

    Academic text (1994)

Synonyms

catch
vsdog
9 5.6

A device that holds or locks something closed

is the narrow ratchet part that fits notches to control wheel movement
detent
vsdog
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A small piece that holds a part in a notch and makes a click

is the specific hinged piece that moves or holds a wheel
pawl
vsdog
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A small metal lever that fits into a gear notch to stop backward movement and let forward movement

is a hinged piece rather than a pivoted lever in its action
click
vsdog
  • Specialized
1 8.2

A small catch in a ratchet that keeps a wheel from moving back

is the traditional name for the same mechanism

Idioms

8 3.4

Spend a lot of time doing hard, tiring tasks

to wag the dog
  • Literature
7 8.8

Make people focus on something less important to hide a bigger problem

hair of the dog
  • Informal
6 7.7

An alcoholic drink taken to ease a hangover

4 8.4

A small, unimportant part that controls the whole thing

treated like a dog
  • Offensive
2 8.1

To behave badly towards someone and show no respect

1 9.9

A playful phrase that says another person or pet is welcome too

1 9.9

Act in a showy way to impress people

dog in the manger
  • Offensive
1 9.7

A person who stops others from using something they neither want nor need

Very different from each other in important ways

dog in the hunt
  • Informal
1 8.2

A person who cares about the result and is actively involved

1 9.9

A person who finally gets what they wanted but does not know what to do next

People online can hide who they really are

To do work yourself when you hired someone else to do it

9.9

To do a task yourself and take responsibility for what happens

dog to kick
  • Informal
9.9

A person unfairly blamed when something goes wrong

A person who suddenly succeeds and then does not know what to do next

Use a company's own products to show they work and learn from them

9.1

Very angry and ready to attack

9.6

Very eager and determined to get something

9.9

To not have enough evidence to prove someone is guilty or to take action

To do something kind for a person in trouble

9.9

To keep trying until everything is finished no matter how long it takes

9.5

Test something first with a small group before using it more widely

To keep supporting something until the very end, no matter how long it takes

Compounds

296 1.0

A cooked sausage in a sliced bun, often with mustard or ketchup

62 1.0

Food made for dogs to eat

big dog
  • Informal
54 6.7

A person who is very important and powerful in a group

33 2.0

An event where judges compare dogs to breed standards

dog shit
  • Offensive
33 9.5

Poop that a dog leaves on the ground

top dog
  • Informal
26 4.6

A person with the most power in a group

25 2.1

A dog trained to protect people or property by warning and sometimes attacking intruders

24 1.8

A hot dog covered in cornmeal batter and fried on a stick

24 3.4

A mammal like a dog that is not kept as a pet and lives in groups

24 1.9

A hot dog with spicy meat sauce in a bun

mad dog
  • Offensive
21 7.9

A person who acts violently and without control

15 1.0

A band worn around a dog's neck to hold a leash or name tag

13 2.7

A dog used for hunting with long ears and a very good nose

13 4.7

A small animal that digs tunnels and lives in large groups on North American grasslands

13 4.1

A dog trained to attack or guard on command

12 2.2

A dog trained to help police find people, drugs, or bombs

dog whistle
  • Literature
12 8.7

A phrase that sends a hidden message about politics to a certain group

12 2.8

A small metal plate on a dog's collar showing the owner's name and phone number

10 2.3

A dog trained to find and catch animals or birds

10 1.9

A dog trained to lead and help a person who cannot see

A dog trained to guide a person who cannot see

10 3.9

A small metal tag on a chain worn by soldiers showing name and number

9 2.5

A place where lost or stray dogs are kept temporarily

9 3.1

Dogs pull a sled that carries people or supplies over snow

dirty dog
  • Offensive
9 8.0

A person who behaves badly or cheats others

8 2.8

Choosing which dogs mate to get puppies with certain qualities

8 1.0

A small outside shelter where a dog sleeps or stays

8 2.6

A race where dogs run and people bet on which dog will win

8 2.7

A dog trained to pull a sled in snowy areas

7 1.0

An injury when a dog's teeth break the skin

7 5.5

The hottest time of summer when people often rest and business slows down

7 3.2

A person who finds stray dogs and brings them to a shelter

alpha dog
  • Informal
7 7.0

A confident person who takes charge and leads a group that others follow

A person who trains and calms dogs using quiet gentle ways

6 1.0

A hard dry food for dogs often used as a treat

junkyard dog
  • Informal
6 8.4

A person who is very aggressive to protect their friends or area

hot dog
  • Archaic
5 7.6

A person who does dangerous tricks to get attention

wiener dog
  • Informal
5 3.1

A small dog with a long body and short legs often kept as a pet

4 2.5

A dog raised and trained to do jobs like guiding or herding animals

4 7.2

A dog that finds and brings back birds for hunters

lucky dog
  • Informal
4 5.8

A person who has very good luck

dog-doo
  • Baby Talk
3 8.6

Poop left by dogs on the ground

devil dog
  • Slang
3 7.2

A member of the United States Marine Corps known for bravery and toughness

dog flea
  • Specialized
3 4.5

A very small insect that lives on dogs and cats and makes them itch

3 2.1

A person who washes, cuts, and styles dogs' fur

dog turd
  • NSFW
3 5.1

A piece of poop that a dog leaves on the ground

sea dog
  • Informal
3 6.9

A sailor who has worked at sea for many years

dog-tired
  • Informal
3 6.4

Very tired after doing hard work for a long time

3 3.2

A very small dog that people breed and keep as a pet in homes

3 4.4

A dog trained to swim and fetch ducks during hunting

3 3.1

A simple swimming stroke with arms and legs moving one after the other like a dog swims

2 2.7

A dog with long hair that herds and guards sheep

2 6.7

The brightest star in the night sky, also called Sirius

2 1.0

A dog people keep as a pet or to do work

A large, intelligent dog that works in police teams or guides blind people

dog turd
  • Offensive
1 9.9

An insulting word for a person or thing that is very bad

dog food
  • Jargon
1 3.9

A product a company uses inside to test and find problems before public release

1 3.8

A dog trained to help hunters by finding and bringing back birds

1 3.5

A dog that barks loudly again and again in an annoying way

shaggy dog story
  • Informal
1 8.8

A long, silly story that goes on and ends with no real punchline

three-dog night
  • Informal
1 9.8

A very cold night when you need extra blankets to stay warm

1 2.7

A very small dog with long, straight white silky fur

bottom dog
  • Offensive
1 9.2

A person or group with low rank who usually loses in competition

1 2.1

About the size of a pet dog

1 8.2

A small wild dog from eastern Asia with dark face markings like a raccoon

1 3.4

A dog trained to alert a person who cannot hear to important sounds like a doorbell or alarm

1 6.0

A person who loves being in or near water, especially swimming

dog robber
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A person who steals dogs from yards or streets

lame dog
  • Offensive
1 8.3

A person who is weak or needs help

1 6.0

An Arctic dog with thick fur used to pull sleds over snow

black dog
  • Literature
1 8.6

A large ghostly dog in stories that people use to describe deep sadness

1 7.1

A corner of a book page folded down to mark where you stopped reading

dog-whistling
  • Literature
1 9.9

A way of saying things that hides a message for a certain group

How Secure

deadlock
  • Specialized
1 6.6
pawl
  • Specialized
1 9.9
dog
  • Specialized
2 9.9
to latch
20 2.5
catch
9 5.6

Surface Forms

dog singular
dogs plural

Etymology

Dog for a mechanical catch comes from the idea of a dog that 'holds' or grips something. That's why a machine 'dog' bites into a wheel to stop or hold it in place.