bow-wow

bow-WOW/ˌbaʊˈwaʊ/

Noun pluralbow-wows

Verbbow-wows, bow-wowing, bow-wowed

5 meanings of bow-wow

1
interjection
A word used to copy the barking sound a dog makes.
Like saying 'moo' for a cow or 'meow' for a cat.
Bow-wow! cried the children, pretending to be puppies.
The toy dog said 'bow-wow' when you pressed its belly.
Similarwoof, arf
Note
2
nounchildishhumorouscountable
A playful, childish name for a dog.
The kids begged to bring the little bow-wow home from the shelter.
Grandma calls every small dog she meets a friendly bow-wow.
Similardoggy, pooch, mutt
Note
3
nouncountable
The barking noise that a dog makes.
We heard a loud bow-wow coming from behind the fence.
The puppy's tiny bow-wow made everyone in the room laugh.
Similarbark, woof
4
verbintransitive
To make the barking sound that a dog makes.
The puppies bow-wow at every car that drives past the house.
Our dog will bow-wow whenever the doorbell rings.
Similarbark, woof, yap

Less common meaning

5
adjectivedated
Sounding very grand or showy without much real value.
Like a balloon that looks big but is full of nothing but air.
His bow-wow style impressed no one in the small office.
They threw a bow-wow party just to show off their new money.
Similarbombastic, pompous, grandiose, pretentious, inflated
Oppositemodest, plain, unpretentious
Note

Practice

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Origin

This word imitates the sound it names.