greyhound
C1General. Formal in reference to the breed; informal/neutral for extended uses.
Definition
Meaning
A tall, slender, swift breed of dog used primarily for racing.
Any fast-moving vehicle or object, especially a long-distance bus in the US. A person noted for swiftness.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The breed name is a single lexical unit; the 'grey' element is not descriptive of colour. The extended meaning is a proprietary eponym (from the Greyhound bus company).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK, strongly associated with dog racing. In the US, also strongly associated with the intercity bus company.
Connotations
UK: gambling, speed, sport. US: long-distance travel, budget transport, speed.
Frequency
Higher frequency in US due to the bus company's brand presence.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
N of N (a greyhound of remarkable speed)N for N (a greyhound for the flats)N V (The greyhound sprinted).Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Run like a greyhound.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
In US business/travel: 'We took a Greyhound to Chicago.'
Academic
Rare, except in canine genetics/zoology studies.
Everyday
Discussing pets, racing, or (US) bus travel.
Technical
Specific in canine breeds and racing industries.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The midfielder greyhounded past the defence.
- He greyhounded down the wing.
American English
- She greyhounded across the field to score.
- The receiver greyhounded to the end zone.
adjective
British English
- She has a greyhound physique.
- His greyhound speed was unmatched.
American English
- The quarterback made a greyhound dash.
- A greyhound frame.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The greyhound is a very fast dog.
- I saw a greyhound at the park.
- My uncle used to go to greyhound races.
- We travelled by Greyhound bus to New York.
- The retired racing greyhound is surprisingly calm and makes a good pet.
- He sprinted down the street with greyhound-like agility.
- The deregulation of the bus industry impacted Greyhound's market dominance.
- Her investment in the greyhound syndicate was a high-risk venture.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: GREY (the colour of some) + HOUND (dog). They run so fast they look like a grey HOUND (blur).
Conceptual Metaphor
SPEED IS A GREYHOUND (e.g., 'That new car is a real greyhound').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate as 'серая гончая' (a descriptive phrase for a grey hunting dog). It is a specific breed name: 'грейхаунд'.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'grayhound' (less common). Using it to describe any thin dog.
Practice
Quiz
In which country is 'Greyhound' most commonly associated with long-distance bus travel?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, the 'grey' in the name is not descriptive. Greyhounds come in many colours including black, white, fawn, and brindle.
Yes, informally, especially in sports journalism, meaning to run very fast in a straight line. (e.g., 'He greyhounded down the sideline').
They are closely related breeds. Whippets are smaller and were historically called 'the poor man's greyhound'. Greyhounds are larger, taller, and the breed used in professional racing.
In the US, it's commonly used generically for intercity buses, but it is a trademark of the Greyhound Lines, Inc. company. In other countries, it is not generic.