Canine

Pronunciation

• RP enPR: kāʹnÄ«n, IPA: /ˈkeɪ.naɪn/, /ˈkæn.aɪn/
• GenAm enPR: kāʹnÄ«n, IPA: /ˈkeɪ.naɪn/
• Homophones: K9

Origin

From Latin canīnus ("of the dog, dog-like").

Full definition of canine

Adjective

1. Of, or pertaining to, a dog or dogs.
• 1913, Sax Rohmer, The Insidious Dr. Fu Manchu, ch. 8,We carried the dog round to the yard, and I examined his head. . . . I accepted the care of the canine patient.
• 2005, Gareth Roberts (writer), , page 17A lost dog sniffed around the flower beds wishing it had some canine company, unaware of the posters put up by its heartbroken owners. ...
  
2. Dog-like.
• 1891, Arthur Quiller-Couch, "The Affair of Bleakirk-on-Sands," Noughts & Crosses,In many respects she made me an admirable wife. Her affection for me was canine—positively.
3. (anatomy) Of or pertaining to mammalian teeth which are cuspids or fangs.
• 1872, Charles Darwin, Expression of Emotion in Man and Animals, ch. 10,Then his upper lip may be seen to be raised, especially at the corners, so that his huge canine teeth are exhibited.

Synonyms

• (of dogs) dogly, houndly
• (dog-like) dogly, doglike, houndly

Noun

1. Any member of Caninae, the only living subfamily of Canidae.
2. Any of certain extant canids regarded as similar to the dog or wolf (including coyotes, jackals, etc.) but distinguished from the vulpines, which are regarded as fox-like.
• 2010, M. S. Mititch, The Spychip Conspiracy, page 189The canine ran across the room to the open window, put his front paws on the sill and pointed his nose at the sidewalk below.
3. In heterodont mammals, the pointy tooth between the incisors and the premolars; a cuspid.
• 2006, Amy Sutherland, Kicked, Bitten, and Scratched: Life and Lessons at the World's Premier School for Animal TrainersHe tried to push Kissu into his cage, but the cougar charged back out and sank his canines into Wilson's rump.
4. (poker slang) A king and a nine as a starting hand in Texas hold 'em due to phonetic similarity.
• 2005, Dennis Purdy, The Illustrated Guide to Texas Hold'em, page 270You have been dealt King-9 unsuited ("canine") in your pocket.

Synonyms

• (dog or wolf) dog
• (pointy tooth) cuspid