WordGarden.iowoof
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /wˈuːf/
US
- /ˈwuf/
Meanings
Noun
the bark or low gruff sound made by a dog
Interjection
used to imitate the bark of a dog
(slang)said, especially by gay men, to show strong attraction to a man
Verb
to bark or make the low gruff sound typical of a dog
(slang)to say "woof" to show that you find a man very attractive
Beyond the definition
"Woof" is the written form people often use for a dog's bark, especially a deep or solid one. It is the kind of sound you might hear when a dog is saying hello, asking for attention, getting excited, or warning someone to stay back. People use it in stories, comics, and everyday speech when they want to copy the sound a dog makes. The word also has a second meaning in cloth making: it can mean the threads that run across a woven fabric.
"Woof" is most often the sound word people write when they want to show a dog barking, especially a low or full bark. You might see it in a children's book, hear someone say it while telling a story, or spot it in a comic beside a barking dog. It can suggest many moods depending on the moment: a happy bark at the door, a warning bark at a stranger, or a playful bark during a game. People also repeat it as "woof woof" when they want the sound to feel more lively or natural.
The word is not limited to sound effects on a page. In casual speech, someone might say a dog "went woof" to tell a simple story about what happened. In that use, the word works as an easy human version of the bark, not as a scientific description of animal sound. Different dogs sound different, of course, but "woof" is one of the most common English ways to represent that bark.
There is also an older textile meaning. In weaving, "woof" can mean the crosswise threads in a woven fabric; this meaning is closely related to "weft." Because of that sense, English also has the phrase "warp and woof," which can describe the basic form or substance of something, such as the warp and woof of daily life.
The exact sound can change a little in real life. One dog may give a short, sharp bark, while another gives a longer, heavier one. Even so, "woof" stays easy to recognize in English as a dog sound. In short, it usually refers to a dog's bark, but in the right context it can also refer to the crosswise threads in woven cloth.
Examples
- 1
Alert bark
The dog gave a sharp woof when the front gate opened.
- 2
Puppy behavior
Our puppy woofed at every bird she saw in the yard.
- 3
Informal reaction
"Woof, that was a long meeting," Mia said as she closed her laptop.
- Usagewoof
used informally to show that something was tiring, difficult, or a lot to deal with
See also
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- woofnoun