does

1. 1
   verb

   Third-person singular simple present indicative of do.

   The new engine does the job far better than the old one.

   My sister does all the cooking on the weekends.

   Note

   The form that grew out of doth: Middle English dos began as a variant of doth, doþ. Beyond its full meaning, it does the auxiliary work of do for a singular subject. It asks (Does she know?), denies (She does not know) and insists (She does know). It also stands in for a verb already said, as in Likes her tea, my mom does. Its spelling is shared with the plural of doe, an unrelated word.

   Does she take sugar in her coffee?

   He does want to come; he's just shy about asking.

2. 2
   noun

   Plural of doe.

   At dusk, several does emerged from the treeline to feed.

   The wardens told the hunters to spare the does this season.

   Note

   Doe names the female of more animals than deer. Antelope, rabbits, hares, squirrels and kangaroos all have does, so the plural follows whichever animal is in view: does in a hutch are rabbits, and does at the forest edge are deer. It takes a plain -s, and in writing only context separates it from the verb form of do.

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