A1noun1K

Pig

UK /["/pɪɡ/"]/US /["/pɪɡ/"]/

Definition

an animal with pink, black or brown skin, short legs, a broad nose and a short curly tail. Pigs are kept on farms for their meat (called pork) or live in the wild.

In simple words: A pig is a farm animal that is often pink and has a curly tail.

Examples

  • The pig is rolling in the mud.
  • She has a cute pig as a pet.
  • The farmer feeds his pig every morning.
  • In some cultures, pig is a common dish.
  • The pig snorted loudly in the barn.
  • He acted like a pig when he ate the food.
  • A pig can be very intelligent and friendly.
  • They raised a pig for the county fair.

Usage notes

Use 'pig' when referring to the animal in general. In informal contexts, it can also describe someone who is greedy or messy, but it's considered rude. Avoid using it in formal writing.

Grammar pattern

standalone noun

Memory hint

Think of a 'piggy bank' — both relate to saving (and are cute!)

Collocations

  • domestic
  • feral
  • wild
  • breed
  • keep
  • raise
  • grunt
  • squeal
  • farm
  • farmer
  • fat
  • disgusting
  • greedy
  • make a pig of yourself

Synonyms

  • swine
  • boar
  • hog
  • sow
  • pork

Antonyms

  • human
  • cow
  • sheep
  • goat

Common mistakes

  • Confused with 'hog' - 'hog' often refers to larger pigs or is used informally.
  • Mistakenly using 'pig' in a serious context without realizing it's often seen as derogatory.