pup

C2+ Topic:Describing Qualities

US /pʌp/ UK /pʌp/ See IPA manual

Minimal pairs

Sounds like pop /ʌ/ vs /ɑ/

noun verb

Meanings

1

noun
a young dog or the young of certain other animals

The collie nursed her newborn pup by the fire.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a young dog or the young of... puppy whelp cub youngster

Word family

Derived forms puppingpupped

Related forms puppy puppet

Etymology

A back-formation from or shortening of puppy, which comes from Middle French poupée ('doll, toy'), ultimately from Latin pupa ('girl, doll').

poupée Middle French pupa Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities

# pup

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** noun, verb
**IPA (US):** pʌp
**IPA (UK):** pʌp

## Meanings
1. a young dog or the young of certain other animals

## Examples
- The collie nursed her newborn pup by the fire.

## Synonyms
- puppy
- whelp
- cub
- youngster

## Derived Forms
- pupping
- pupped

## Related Forms
- puppy
- puppet

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: poupée
- Root: pupa

## Etymology
A back-formation from or shortening of puppy, which comes from Middle French poupée ('doll, toy'), ultimately from Latin pupa ('girl, doll').

## AI Etymology
Pup is a back-formation from or shortening of puppy, which comes from Middle French poupée ('doll, toy'), ultimately from Latin pupa ('girl, doll'). Its formation runs backward from an existing longer form, producing a shorter base that then carries the same family of senses. As a noun and verb, it denotes "a young dog or the young of certain other animals", keeping the historical idea close to its dictionary sense. Relevant historical forms include Middle French poupée and Latin pupa. Derivative forms include pupping, pupped; related words include puppy, puppet.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

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pup

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