Definition

1. Noun:

   • A young dog; a puppy: A pup is a juvenile canine, especially a domestic dog, typically before it reaches one year of age.
   • The young of certain other animals: The term can also refer to the young of various other mammals, particularly carnivores like wolves, seals, or foxes.
   • (Informal, often derogatory) An inexperienced or conceited young man: Used to describe a young person, especially a male, who is immature, arrogant, or inexperienced.

2. Verb:

   • To give birth to pups (said of a female canine or similar animal): The act of a dog, wolf, or similar animal bearing young.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • We adopted a six-week-old pup from the animal shelter.
  • The seal pup stayed close to its mother on the beach.
  • (Informal) Don't listen to him; he's just a cocky pup who doesn't know what he's talking about.

• Verb:

  • Our dog is expected to pup next month.
  • The wolf pupped in a den deep in the forest.

Advanced Usage

• In pup: (Adjective phrase) Describing a female dog that is pregnant.
  • The veterinarian confirmed that the greyhound was in pup.
• To sell someone a pup: (Idiom, British English) To swindle or cheat someone, especially by selling them something of little value under false pretenses.
  • I think I was sold a pup with this used car; the engine failed after a week.

Variants and Related Words

• Puppy (n): The more common and specific term for a young dog. Often used interchangeably with 'pup' but can imply an even younger age or cuter connotation.
• Whelp (n/v): A formal or literary synonym for a young canine or the act of giving birth to one. (e.g., )
• Pupilage (n): The state or period of being a pupil or student (from a different root, but sometimes confused).

Synonyms

• Noun (young dog): Puppy, whelp, doggy.
• Noun (inexperienced person): Novice, greenhorn, upstart (derogatory).
• Verb: Whelp, give birth.

Related Phrasal Verbs

(The word 'pup' itself is not commonly used to form phrasal verbs.)

Related Idioms

• Pup tent: A small, simple tent, often for two people, named for its resemblance to a shelter for dogs.
  • We slept in a pup tent during the hiking trip.

Noun

1. an inexperienced young person
2. young of any of various canines such as a dog or wolf

Verb

1. birth
   • the dog whelped