cow
cow Lexical Profile
cow Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A fully grown female animal of a domesticated breed of ox (Bos taurus), primarily kept for the production of milk or beef.
"The dairy farmer milked the cow early every morning before sunrise."
A mature female of various other large mammals, such as elephants, whales, seals, or moose.
"The researchers observed a mother whale, or cow, swimming closely alongside her newborn calf."
• verb
To cause someone to submit to one's wishes by intimidation or fear.
"The ambitious executive refused to be cowed by the aggressive tactics of her competitors."
Word Nuance & Usage
In agricultural terminology, 'cow' strictly refers to a mature female bovine that has produced a calf, distinguishing it from a 'heifer' (young female) and 'bull' (intact male), though laypeople often use it generically for any cattle.
• Rhymes for cow
Word Origin & Etymology
From Old English 'cū', of Germanic origin; related to Dutch 'koe' and German 'Kuh', descending from an ancient Indo-European root shared by Latin 'bos'.