pug

1 of 4

noun (1)

ˈpəg 

1

: any of a breed of small sturdy compact dogs of Asian origin with a smooth, short coat, tightly curled tail, short muzzle, and broad wrinkled face

2

a

: pug nose

b

: a close knot or coil of hair : bun

Illustration of pug

• pug 1

pug

2 of 4

verb

pugged; pugging

transitive verb

: to work and mix (a substance, such as clay) when wet especially to make more homogeneous and easier to handle (as in throwing or molding wares)

pug

3 of 4

noun (2)

: boxer entry 1 sense 1

pug

4 of 4

noun (3)

: pugmark

Synonyms

Noun (2)

• boxer
• fighter
• gladiator
• prizefighter
• pugilist

Examples of pug in a Sentence

Noun (2)

a retired pug with battered ears and swollen knuckles

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The couple left their home last evening with their two pugs after smoke engulfed their neighborhood near Eaten County, Bobbie Oliver said, where winds reached 70 mph. —Raquel Coronell Uribe, NBC News, 8 Jan. 2025

Vito, a 2-and-a-half-year-old pug from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, took home the coveted title of Best in Show, beating out about 2,000 dogs representing 205 breeds and varieties, according to the Kennel Club of Philadelphia who hosted the event. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 29 Nov. 2024

For the first time, a pug has won the Best in Show title at the National Dog Show. —Kerry Breen, CBS News, 29 Nov. 2024

For the first time in at least a decade, a pug has been crowned best in show at the 92nd annual National Dog Show. —Kaylah Jackson, NBC News, 29 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

obsolete pug hobgoblin, monkey

Verb

origin unknown

Noun (2)

by shortening & alteration from pugilist

Noun (3)

Hindi & Urdu pag foot, step

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1751, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1843, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1858, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

1851, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing pug

• pug mill
• pug nose

Kids Definition

pug

noun

ˈpəg

: any of a breed of small sturdy compact dogs having a short coat, tightly curled tail, and broad wrinkled face