udder

noun

ud·der ˈə-dər

: a large pendulous organ consisting of two or more mammary glands enclosed in a common envelope and each provided with a single nipple see cow illustration

: mammary gland

Examples of udder in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Dairy producers can decrease the risk of contamination by cleaning machinery and tanks, cleaning animals’ udders, and storing milk at low temperatures. —

Claire Bugos, Verywell Health, 20 July 2023 Unlike other supermarket staples that can halt the factory line when the market shifts, cows can’t just turn off their udders. —

Bloomberg Wire, Dallas News, 11 July 2023 Scientists had replaced the nucleus of an egg cell with the nucleus from a parent cell — in Dolly’s case, an udder cell from a Finn Dorset sheep. —

Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 July 2023 And then, one day, the truck arrives, and the babies are packed up, squealing in fright: Their mother is soon left sniffing after them, her udders still full with milk. —

Robyn Bahr, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Mar. 2023 State officials who inspected the milking parlor in the months before Jefferson’s death noted manure on the walls and cows with dirty flanks and udders, signs that the milk was at risk of becoming contaminated. —

Melissa Sanchez and Maryam Jameel, Journal Sentinel, 23 Feb. 2023 But take it easy on that udder. —

Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY, 23 Sep. 2020 No This funny cow costume is great for a dog with flat ears that can wear the headpiece and who won’t mind the udder attached to the belly strap. —

Madison Yauger, Peoplemag, 18 Oct. 2022 The technical term for the clouds is mammatus, which is derived from Latin for udder or breast, according to Merriam-Webster Dictionary. —

From Usa Today Network and Wire Reports, USA TODAY, 22 July 2022 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'udder.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English ūder; akin to Old High German ūtar udder, Latin uber, Greek outhar, Sanskrit ūdhar

First Known Use

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

Time Traveler

The first known use of udder was before the 12th century

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Udder.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/udder. Accessed 4 Oct. 2023.

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Kids Definition

udder

noun

ud·der ˈəd-ər

: a large bag-shaped organ (as of a cow) consisting of two or more mammary glands enclosed in a common pouch but with each having a separate nipple

: a mammary gland

Medical Definition

udder

noun

ud·der ˈəd-ər

: a large pendulous organ in various mammals and especially a female domestic bovine consisting of two or more mammary glands enclosed in a common envelope and each provided with a single nipple