bloodhound
/'blʌdhaund/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A specific breed of dog: A bloodhound is a large, powerful breed of scent hound originally developed in Europe. It is characterized by its exceptional sense of smell, loose skin, long ears, and a solemn expression. It is traditionally used for tracking by scent.
Usage
- The primary use of the word "bloodhound" is to refer to the dog breed itself.
- It can be used metaphorically to describe a person who is very skilled at finding or investigating things, due to the breed's renowned tracking ability.
Examples
- Literal (Breed):
- The police used a bloodhound to follow the suspect's trail through the woods.
- Bloodhounds are known for their gentle temperament and incredible noses.
- Metaphorical (Person):
- That reporter is a real bloodhound when it comes to uncovering corruption.
Advanced Usage
- "To have a bloodhound's nose for something": To have an exceptional ability to detect or find something.
- The editor has a bloodhound's nose for grammatical errors.
Variants and Related Words
- Hound: A general term for a type of dog used for hunting, often by scent or sight. A bloodhound is a type of hound.
- Scent hound: A category of hounds that hunt primarily by scent rather than sight. The bloodhound is a premier example of a scent hound.
Synonyms
- Tracker: (when referring to its function) A person or animal that follows tracks.
- Sleuth: (in the metaphorical sense) A detective or investigator.
Related Phrases/Idioms
- Like a bloodhound on the trail/scent: Behaving with singular determination and skill in pursuing an objective.
- The auditor was like a bloodhound on the trail of the missing funds.
Noun
- a breed of large powerful hound of European origin having very acute smell and used in tracking