canine
canine — adjective
- caninepositive
- more caninecomparative
- most caninesuperlative
1. describing dogs, their behaviour, or the qualities people tend to associate with
describing dogs, their behaviour, or the qualities people tend to associate with them — for instance, a strong sense of smell, loyalty, or a fondness for chewing and digging.
The vet said regular walks meet a dog's basic canine needs for exercise and exploration.
canine + noun: needs, behaviour, instincts
Jabari signed up for a canine training course to teach his rescue dog basic commands.
The shelter's canine residents included fifteen dogs waiting to be adopted by new families.
Eve enrolled her Labrador in a canine obedience class at the community centre each Saturday.
文法句型
canine + noun
用法筆記
This is the primary adjectival form. It appears in many compound nouns such as 'canine behaviour', 'canine health', and 'canine training'. For the noun meaning 'dog', see noun sense 2.
常見錯誤
canine — noun
- caninesingular
- caninesplural
1. a sharp pointed tooth in humans and other mammals, sitting between the front cut
a sharp pointed tooth in humans and other mammals, sitting between the front cutting teeth and the back grinding teeth, used for gripping and tearing food — adults have two in the upper jaw and two in the lower jaw.
The dentist told Hoa that her canine teeth looked healthy and needed no further treatment.
Manuela felt her right canine with her tongue and noticed a sharp chip on it.
In humans, canines are the longest teeth and often the last to arrive before molars.
The orthodontist checked the girl's upper canines to see their growth through the gums.
文法句型
the + plural: the canines
用法筆記
In everyday conversation, people often say 'canine tooth' or 'canine teeth' rather than just 'canine'. The shorter form is more common in medical or dental writing.
常見錯誤
2. a dog, especially when referred to in a formal, scientific, or official context
a dog, especially when referred to in a formal, scientific, or official context such as veterinary medicine, law enforcement, or animal care.
The couple adopted a small white canine from the local animal shelter last spring.
formal register for 'dog'
Shanti's golden retriever was a friendly canine who loved playing with children at the park.
The army trains canines to detect explosives at airports and border crossings around the world.
Hui's elderly canine had trouble climbing the stairs, so she carried him up each evening.
文法句型
a/the canine
用法筆記
This sense sounds formal or technical. In everyday conversation, 'dog' is more natural. You are most likely to encounter it in written reports ('police canine'), veterinary contexts, or legal documents.
常見錯誤
3. any animal belonging to the biological family Canidae — a group of meat-eating m
any animal belonging to the biological family Canidae — a group of meat-eating mammals that includes domestic dogs, wolves, coyotes, jackals, foxes, and related wild species.
Wolves are wild canines that live and hunt in family packs across North American forests.
Wei studied how different canines, from foxes to wolves, communicate through body language and calls.
range marker: from foxes to wolves
Unlike most canines, the maned wolf of South America lives alone, not in a pack.
The biologist said all canines share a common ancestor from millions of years ago.
Foxes are the smallest wild canines found in both rural farmland and busy city neighbourhoods.
- canid
the exact scientific term for a member of the family Canidae; used interchangeably in biology
- dog family member
non-technical alternative; more descriptive but less precise
- feline
member of the cat family (Felidae), the main counterpart group among carnivorous mammals
文法句型
the + plural: wild canines
用法筆記
This is a technical biological sense. Use 'canine' when discussing animal classification or evolutionary relationships. For individual species, use the specific name (wolf, fox, coyote) unless you mean the family as a whole.