lamb
LAM
Lamb (noun) means a young sheep. Example: “A lamb followed its mother across the muddy field, bleating loudly.”
noun
1
A young sheep.
"A lamb followed its mother across the muddy field, bleating loudly."
"The lambs were still wobbly on their legs, only a day old."
"Farmers check the fields at dawn during lambing season."
2
The meat of a young sheep, eaten as food.
"The butcher recommended slow-cooked lamb for the stew we were making."
"Grilled lamb with rice is my favourite meal at the market."
"We had roast lamb with mint sauce for Sunday dinner."
3
A gentle, innocent, or easily-led person.
"Don't be such a lamb and let them take advantage of you."
"The shy new boy was a lamb among the older pupils."
"He's a real lamb — he'd never say a harsh word to anyone."
verb
1
Of a sheep, to give birth.
"Several of the ewes lambed overnight despite the cold weather."
"The shepherd stayed up late waiting for the last ewe to lamb."
"The ewes are due to lamb any day now."
How to use lamb
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA baby sheep, or the meat from one — also used affectionately for someone innocent or gentle.
Common pairings
spring lamb
lamb chop
gentle as a lamb
lambing season
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Word forms
- Plural
- lambs, lamber, lambren
- Third person singular
- lambs
- Past tense
- lambed
Fill the gap
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A _____ followed its mother across the muddy field, bleating loudly.
Etymology
From Old English lamb, an ancient Germanic word shared across most northern European languages.
Related words
Rhymes for lamb
See all rhymes for lamb →Frequently asked questions
What does “lamb” mean?
The word “lamb” means a young sheep. In plain terms, a baby sheep, or the meat from one — also used affectionately for someone innocent or gentle.
How do you pronounce “lamb”?
“Lamb” is pronounced LAM (/ˈleə̯m/ in IPA).
How do you use “lamb” in a sentence?
Here is “lamb” used in a sentence: “The lambs were still wobbly on their legs, only a day old.”
What part of speech is “lamb”?
Depending on how it is used, “lamb” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “lamb” come from?
The word “lamb” comes from Old English. From Old English lamb, an ancient Germanic word shared across most northern European languages.
Is “lamb” a common word?
“Lamb” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “lamb” have?
“Lamb” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a young sheep.
What is the difference between a lamb and a sheep?
A lamb is a young sheep, while sheep is the general name for the animal at any age. Once grown, a female sheep is called a ewe and a male is called a ram.
What is the difference between lamb and mutton?
Lamb is the meat of a young sheep, while mutton is the meat of an adult sheep. Lamb is generally more tender and milder in flavour, and it is the more widely sold of the two in many countries.
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