Definition of Belgian Blue
: any of a breed of large beef cattle developed in Belgium that are blue, white, or blue-and-white pied and have an increased rate of muscle growth resulting from a mutation in the gene coding for myostatin Fed normally, Belgian Blues develop 20 to 30 percent more muscle than average cattle, and their meat is lower in fat and unusually tender.— John Travis, Science News, 22 Nov. 1997 Belgian Blues are unlike any cows you've ever seen. They have a genetic mutation that means they do not have effective myostatin, a substance that curbs muscle growth.— Nicholas D. Kristof, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2004
Keep scrolling for more
Comments on Belgian Blue
What made you want to look up Belgian Blue? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Test Your Vocabulary
Namesakes Word Quiz
- Which of the following is a fruit named after a Moroccan seaport?
Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
TAKE THE QUIZ
Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridgedWords at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games
- Namesakes Word Quiz
When names become words and then we ask you about...
Take the quiz - Farm Idioms Quiz
Not your children's farm quiz.
Take the quiz - Spell It
Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
Take the quiz - Dictionary Devil
The dictionary has been scrambled—can you put i...
Play the game
Share Belgian Blue
Time Traveler for Belgian Blue
The first known use of Belgian Blue was in 1987
See more words from the same year