watch•dog
Pronunciation: (woch'dôg", -dog"), [key]
— n., adj., v., -dogged, -dog•ging.
—n.
- a dog kept to guard property.
- a watchful guardian: a self-appointed watchdog of the public morals.
—adj.
- of, pertaining to, or characteristic of a watchdog.
- organized or functioning as a watchful guardian, esp. against illegal or unethical conduct: a watchdog group in the legislature.
—v.t.
- to watch carefully, esp. so as to detect illegal or unethical conduct.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.