Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense hounds, present participle hounding, past tense, past participle hounded
1. countable noun
A hound is a type of dog that is often used for hunting or racing.
Synonyms: dog, pooch [informal], mutt [informal], cur More Synonyms of hound
2. verb
If someone hounds you, they constantly disturb or speak to you in an annoying or upsetting way.
Newcomers are constantly hounding them for advice. [VERB noun]
From the start of the season, the Arsenal striker has been hounded by the press. [VERB noun]
3. verb [usually passive]
If someone is houndedout of a job or place, they are forced to leave it, often because other people are constantlycriticizing them.
There is a general view around that he has been hounded out of office by the press. [beV-ed + out of/from]
More Synonyms of hound
hound in British English1
(haʊnd)
noun
1.
a.
any of several breeds of dog used for hunting
b.
(in combination)
an otterhound
a deerhound
2. the hounds
3.
a dog, esp one regarded as annoying
4.
a despicable person
5.
(in hare and hounds) a runner who pursues a hare
6. slang, mainly US and Canadian
an enthusiast
an autograph hound
7. short for houndfish, See also nursehound
8. ride to hounds
verb(transitive)
9.
to pursue or chase relentlessly
10.
to urge on
Derived forms
hounder (ˈhounder)
noun
Word origin
Old English hund; related to Old High German hunt, Old Norse hundr, Gothic hunds
hound in British English2
(haʊnd)
noun
1.
either of a pair of horizontal bars that reinforce the running gear of a horse-drawn vehicle
2. nautical
either of a pair of fore-and-aft braces that serve as supports for a topmast
Word origin
C15: of Scandinavian origin; related to Old Norse hūnn knob, cube
hound in American English1
(haʊnd)
noun
1.
any of several breeds of hunting dog that find game either by scenting and tracking, as the beagle, the bloodhound, and the foxhound, or by sighting followed by swift pursuit, as the borzoi, deerhound, and greyhound
2.
any dog, especially a member of one of the hunting breeds, with drooping ears, a deep-throated bark, and a keen sense of smell
3.
a contemptible person
4. US, Slang
a devotee or fan
autograph hound
verb transitive
5.
to hunt or chase with or as with hounds; chase or follow continually; nag
to hound a debtor
6.
to urge on; incite as to pursuit
SIMILAR WORDS: bait
Idioms:
follow the hounds
Word origin
ME < OE hund, a dog (generic term), akin to Ger < IE base *kwon-, dog > cynic, Gr kyōn, L canis: sense hound1 (sense 1) shows specialization, accompanied by generalization of OE docga: see dog
hound in American English2
(haʊnd)
noun
1.
either of two projections at the masthead for supporting the trestletrees and the upper parts of the lower rigging
2.
a horizontal bar for strengthening the running gear of a wagon, cart, etc.
Word origin
< ME houn < ON hūnn, knob (< IE base *eu-, to swell, arch > L cavus, hollow), with unhistoric -d, infl. by hound1
Examples of 'hound' in a sentence
hound
Forgive me for not wanting to take style tips from a man who looks like an Afghan hound with its head out of a car window.
The Sun (2016)
Forgive me for not wanting to take style tips from a man who looks like an Afghanhound with its head out of a car window.
The Sun (2016)
Many supported the repeal of the ban on hunting with hounds.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
He would be branded a liar and hounded out of office.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
She was fined heavily and spent her remaining years being hounded from place to place.
Martin Manser COLLINS DICTIONARY OF SAINTS (2004)
Lose and the hounds of hell might be unleashed.
The Sun (2015)
Meanwhile the fugitive couple were hounded by press photographers.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
What is it like playing opposite the old hound?
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Will the hounds awaken and chase another beast?
Kovel, Joel Red Hunting in the Promised Land: Anticommunism and the Making of America (1994)
But he has become invisible since being hounded out of office two years ago.
The Sun (2013)
It is mostly about press and being hounded.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
This is a wonderful anthology of writing about cats and dogs by young pups and old hounds.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Hunting with hounds still takes place.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
He was a publicity hound who liked to befriend Hollywood stars.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
His behaviour seems instinctive, with no more reasoning than that of a hound coursing a hare.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
But having done so, should he be hounded from office?
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
A hound of hell bursting from a banqueting table?
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Our dog lost and hound.
The Sun (2016)
Admittedly she is an Afghan hound.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
I can't tell you the joy these hounds constantly bring me.
The Sun (2014)
He appears to dispute that, but he won't deny that he is a shameless publicity hound.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
In other languages
hound
British English: hound NOUN
A hound is a type of dog that is often used for hunting or racing.
His chief interest in life is hunting with hounds.
American English: hound
Brazilian Portuguese: cão de caça
Chinese: 猎犬
European Spanish: perro de caza
French: chien de chasse
German: Jagdhund
Italian: segugio
Japanese: 猟犬
Korean: 사냥개
European Portuguese: cão de caça
Latin American Spanish: perro de caza
British English: hound VERB
If someone hounds you, they constantly disturb or speak to you in an annoying or upsetting way.
Newcomers are constantly hounding them for advice.
American English: hound
Brazilian Portuguese: importunar
Chinese: 猎犬
European Spanish: acosar
French: harceler
German: hetzen
Italian: perseguitare
Japanese: しつこく追い回す
Korean: 따라다니며 괴롭히다
European Portuguese: importunar
Latin American Spanish: acosar
All related terms of 'hound'
otter hound
a dog formerly used for otter hunting , esp one of a breed, now rare , that stands about 60 cm (24 in.) high and has a harsh thick coat, often greyish with tan markings
Afghan hound
a tall graceful breed of hound with a long silky coat
basset hound
A basset hound is a dog with short strong legs , a long body, and long ears . It is kept as a pet or used for hunting .
gazelle hound
a tall breed of hound with a smooth coat and long fringes on the ears and tail
Ibizan hound
a tall slender short-haired breed of hound with large erect ears and a coat of white, chestnut , or tan , or of a combination of these colours
Pharaoh hound
a medium-sized powerful swift-moving short-haired breed of hound having a glossy tan coat, sometimes with white markings
smooth hound
any of several small sharks of the genus Mustelus, esp M. mustelus, a species of North Atlantic coastal regions: family Triakidae
hound's-tongue
any boraginaceous weedy plant of the genus Cynoglossum, esp the Eurasian C. officinale, which has small reddish-purple flowers and spiny fruits
chowhound
a greedy person or a person who loves eating
hound's-tooth check
a pattern of broken or jagged checks , esp one printed on or woven into cloth
basset
a long low smooth-haired breed of hound with short strong legs and long ears
Molossian
a breed of dog native to Epirus in NW Greece , used in classical antiquity as a hunting dog and guard dog
houndstooth check
a pattern of broken checks , used in woven material for jackets , shirts , etc.