cow

1 of 2

noun

ˈkau̇ 

plural cows

1

a

: the mature female of cattle (genus Bos)

b

: the mature female of various usually large animals (such as an elephant, whale, or moose)

c

: a domestic bovine animal regardless of sex or age

2

informal, disparaging + offensive : an unpleasant, annoying, or vacuous woman

cowy

ˈkau̇-ē 

adjective

Illustration of cow

• 1 hoof
• 2 pastern
• 3 dewclaw
• 4 switch
• 5 hock
• 6 rear udder
• 7 flank
• 8 thigh
• 9 tail
• 10 pinbone
• 11 tail head
• 12 thurl
• 13 hip
• 14 barrel
• 15 ribs
• 16 crops
• 17 withers
• 18 heart girth
• 19 neck
• 20 horn
• 21 poll
• 22 forehead
• 23 bridge of nose
• 24 muzzle
• 25 jaw
• 26 throat
• 27 point of shoulder
• 28 dewlap
• 29 point of elbow
• 30 brisket
• 31 chest floor
• 32 knee
• 33 milk well
• 34 milk vein
• 35 fore udder
• 36 teats
• 37 rump
• 38 loin

cow

2 of 2

verb

cowed; cowing; cows

transitive verb

: to destroy the resolve or courage of

also : to bring to a state or an action by intimidation

—used with into

… like too many Asian armies, adept at cowing a population into feeding them …

—Edward Lansdale

cowedly

ˈkau̇(-ə)d-lē 

adverb

Synonyms

Verb

• intimidate
• bully
• frighten
• scare
• badger
• startle

Choose the Right Synonym for cow

intimidate, cow, bulldoze, bully, browbeat mean to frighten into submission.

intimidate implies inducing fear or a sense of inferiority into another.

intimidated by so many other bright freshmen

cow implies reduction to a state where the spirit is broken or all courage is lost.

not at all cowed by the odds against making it in show business

bulldoze implies an intimidating or an overcoming of resistance usually by urgings, demands, or threats.

bulldozed the city council into approving the plan

bully implies intimidation through threats, insults, or aggressive behavior.

bullied into giving up their lunch money

browbeat implies a cowing through arrogant, scornful, or contemptuous treatment.

browbeat the witness into a contradiction

Examples of cow in a Sentence

Noun

The cows need to be milked twice a day.

Verb

I refuse to be cowed by their threats.

a sharp glare cowed the child into being quiet

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The restaurant’s fan favorite might well be the garden peas served with grated fresh summer truffle and cheese from Danish cows—this dish is a mic drop, pure and simple. —Katie Kelly Bell, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025

Chocolate and strawberry cow milk packed with sugars and additives get a pass. —Elianna Friedman, Oc Register, 5 Sep. 2025

Verb

My hunch is that many who in private criticize Israel or America’s support for Israel never say a word in public, cowed into silence by the sword of Damocles hanging over them — the omnipresent threat of charges of antisemitism. —Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2025

In each of these instances, Trump wants power and the majority Republicans in Congress have been too cowed to resist him. —New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 12 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English cou, from Old English cū; akin to Old High German kuo cow, Latin bos head of cattle, Greek bous, Sanskrit go

Verb

probably of Scandinavian origin; akin to Danish kue to subdue

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1581, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing cow

• ant cow
• cash cow
• cow college
• cow horse
• cow parsnip
• cow pie
• cow pony
• cow town
• giant cow parsley
• giant cow parsnip
• have a cow
• holy cow
• mad cow disease
• sacred cow
• sea cow
• Steller's sea cow

Rhymes for cow

• bough
• brow
• chow
• ciao
• clow
• dao
• dow
• frau
• hao
• hau
• how
• lao

Kids Definition

cow

1 of 2 noun

ˈkau̇ 

1

: the adult female of cattle or of any of various usually large animals (as elephants, whales, or seals)

2

: any domestic bovine animal regardless of sex or age

cow

2 of 2 verb

: to lessen the spirits or courage of : frighten

were cowed into silence by threats

Etymology

Noun

Old English cū "cow"

Verb

probably of Scandinavian origin