WordGarden.iobloodhound
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /blˈʌdhaʊnd/
US
- /ˈblədhaʊnd/
Meanings
Noun
a large hound dog bred for tracking by scent
a persistent investigator or tracker of clues
Beyond the definition
A bloodhound isn’t just a dog; it’s a scent hound built for following trails with remarkable focus. In real life, these dogs are used by police, rescue teams, and trackers to locate missing people, fugitives, or scent-linked evidence when smell is the best lead. Their droopy ears and wrinkled faces are distinctive, but their reputation comes from their extraordinary nose and willingness to stay on a trail. Historically linked to European hunting lines, they were once used to pursue game, and today the term can also describe a person who tracks information or suspects with dogged persistence.
The word “bloodhound” brings to mind an unmistakable image: a patient, determined tracker with a face close to the ground and a long history tied to scent work. This breed has long been shaped for exceptional smell, giving it a legendary reputation for following trails over complex terrain and through weather changes.
The name has also been associated with hunting traditions in Europe, where similar scent dogs were valued for pursuing game like wild boar and deer; their strength later made them useful in monastic and law-enforcement contexts as practical tracking specialists. A strong blood trail can be followed for extended periods, but their performance depends on both natural ability and careful training with a handler.
Beyond the literal animal, “bloodhound” is commonly used for a person who is relentless in investigation. In writing and speech, calling someone a bloodhound means they pursue clues, questions, or leads with tenacity and rarely let go.
Examples
- 1
Search and rescue
The search team used a bloodhound to track the missing hiker through the woods.
- 2
Pets
My uncle keeps two bloodhounds, and both of them are gentle around children.
- 3
Figurative use
Give Rosa a few details, and she'll be a bloodhound until she finds the answer.
- Phrasebe a bloodhound
keep searching hard for information or clues
See also
Similar
Contrast
- sighthound
Used with (collocations)
- bloodhound puppy
- bloodhound nose
- bloodhound on the trail
Explore
- scent hound
- tracking dog
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- bloodhoundnoun
Forms
- bloodhoundspluralnoun