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Definition of beef stew
beef stew
Plural:beef stews
beef stew Lexical Profile
CEFR
A2
Grade
3
Tier
1
Usage
Top 5k
• noun
1
A savory, slow-cooked dish consisting of chunks of beef and usually vegetables, such as potatoes and carrots, simmered in a seasoned broth or gravy.
Example
"We enjoyed a warm, hearty bowl of beef stew on the cold winter evening."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for beef stewWord Origin & Etymology
A descriptive compound phrase combining 'beef' (from Old French 'boef') and 'stew' (from Old French 'estuver', meaning to bathe or stew). Stewing as a slow-cooking method dates back to ancient times to tenderize tough cuts of meat.
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Beef stew. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 14, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/beef stew