cow
kow
Cow (noun) means an adult female of domestic cattle, especially one that has given birth to a calf. Example: “The cow gave birth to a healthy calf in the barn.”
noun
1
An adult female of domestic cattle, especially one that has given birth to a calf.
"The cow gave birth to a healthy calf in the barn."
"The farmer milked the cow every morning at six."
"A herd of cows grazed in the field beside the road."
2
The female of various other large mammals, such as whales, elephants, or moose.
"A female whale, called a cow, swims with her calf in the bay."
"The moose cow led her young one through the trees."
"The elephant cow stayed close to her calf."
verb
1
To frighten someone into submission; to intimidate.
"Don't let the bully cow you into giving up your seat."
"The strict manager tried to cow the whole team into silence."
"The workers were cowed into silence by threats of dismissal."
How to use cow
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA female bovine animal kept for milk or meat, or, as a verb, to scare someone into obeying.
Common mistake
The verb sense (to cow someone) is usually used in the passive: "cowed into silence," "cowed by his tone."
Common pairings
dairy cow
milk a cow
cowed into silence
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Word forms
- Plural
- cows, cattle, kine, kye
- Third person singular
- cows
- Past tense
- cowed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ gave birth to a healthy calf in the barn.
Etymology
From Old English cu, going back to a very old Indo-European root also seen in Latin bos (giving us "beef") and Greek bous.
Synonyms
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Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “cow” mean?
The word “cow” means an adult female of domestic cattle, especially one that has given birth to a calf. In plain terms, a female bovine animal kept for milk or meat, or, as a verb, to scare someone into obeying.
How do you pronounce “cow”?
“Cow” is pronounced kow (/kaʊ/ in IPA).
How do you use “cow” in a sentence?
Here is “cow” used in a sentence: “The farmer milked the cow every morning at six.”
What is another word for “cow”?
Words with a similar meaning to “cow” include moo-cow and dolphinet.
What is the opposite of “cow”?
The opposite of “cow” — its antonyms — are bull, ox, steer and heifer.
What part of speech is “cow”?
Depending on how it is used, “cow” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “cow” come from?
The word “cow” comes from Latin. From Old English cu, going back to a very old Indo-European root also seen in Latin bos (giving us "beef") and Greek bous.
Is “cow” a common word?
“Cow” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
What is the difference between a cow and a heifer?
A cow is an adult female of domestic cattle, especially one that has given birth to a calf. A heifer is a young female that has not yet had a calf, so a heifer becomes a cow after calving.
What is the difference between a cow and a bull?
A cow is an adult female of domestic cattle, while a bull is an adult, uncastrated male. The two words mark the difference in sex within cattle.
What is the difference between a cow and cattle?
"Cow" refers to a single adult female animal, while "cattle" is a collective term for the animals as a group, including cows, bulls, and calves. You would say "one cow" but "a herd of cattle."
Can cow refer to animals other than cattle?
Yes. "Cow" is also used for the female of various other large mammals, such as whales, elephants, and moose. So a female elephant or whale is correctly called a cow.
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