Pug

/pʌɡ/

Meaning & Definition

noun

A small breed of dog with a wrinkled face and curled tail, known for its playful and sociable nature.

She adopted a sweet little pug from the animal shelter.

An offensive term for a person who is perceived as ugly or unattractive.

He jokingly called his friend a pug after she stumbled on the sidewalk.

verb

To press or squeeze something, often used in a playful or gentle manner.

She pugs the dough to make it smooth before rolling it out.

From the late 16th century, possibly derived from 'pug' in dialectal English meaning 'a small, low, or ugly person'.

pug face

A face that is wrinkled, reminiscent of a pug dog.

pug-nosed

Having a short, flat nose, typical of a pug.

pugilist

An informal term for a boxer, seems phonetically related but not a direct synonym.

bulldog

A breed of dog known for its muscular build and wrinkled face.

terrier

A dog of a breed originally used for hunting or digging out burrowing animals.

An unattractive or awkward person.

After the party, he felt like such a pug when he tripped over his own feet.

Used affectionately for someone who is sweet but clumsy.

You're such a little pug when you dance!