collie

Everyday

1. A breed of dog with a long pointed nose and thick fur, first used in Scotland to herd sheep. tree →
2. Border collie: a very clever working sheepdog, often black and white. tree →

In the lessons

In nature and farm life: collies herd sheep by running round them. In stories and films: Lassie is a famous collie. In science: collies are among the cleverest dog breeds.

Examples

• The collie rounded up the sheep. tree →
• Our border collie loves to chase balls. tree →
• Collies need lots of exercise. tree →
• Lassie is a famous rough collie. tree →
• The farmer whistled to his collie. tree →
• A collie can learn many commands. tree →
• Now, if you could plough the fields like the ox, or draw a cart like the horse, or look after the sheep like the collie-dog, that would be something.” tree →

Note

Plural: collies. Not «colly». Collies may try to herd children or cats because of their instincts.