Main Entry:

¹beef

Pronunciation:

\ˈbēf\

Function:

noun

Inflected Form(s):

plural beefs \ˈbēfs\ or beeves \ˈbēvz\

Etymology:

Middle English, from Anglo-French beof, bef ox, beef, from Latin bov-, bos head of cattle — more at cow

Date:

14th century

1: the flesh of an adult domestic bovine (as a steer or cow) used as food2 a: an ox, cow, or bull in a full-grown or nearly full-grown state ; especially : a steer or cow fattened for food <quality Texas beeves> <a herd of good beef> b: a dressed carcass of a beef animal3: muscular flesh : brawn4plural beefs : complaint

[beef illustration]