beef

[ beef ]

noun

, plural beeves [beevz] beefs

1. the flesh of a cow, steer, or bull raised and killed for its meat.
2. an adult cow, steer, or bull raised for its meat.
3. Informal.
   1. brawn; muscular strength.
   2. strength; power.
   3. weight, as of a person.
   4. human flesh.
4. Slang.
   1. a complaint.
   2. an argument or dispute.

verb (used without object)

1. Slang. to complain; grumble.

verb phrase

1. 1. to add strength, numbers, force, etc., to; strengthen:

      During the riots, the nighttime patrol force was beefed up with volunteers.

   2. to increase or add to:

      to beef up our fringe benefits.

beef

/ biːf /

noun

1. the flesh of various bovine animals, esp the cow, when killed for eating
2. beevesbiːvz an adult ox, bull, cow, etc, reared for its meat
3. informal.
   human flesh, esp when muscular
4. beefs a complaint

verb

1. slang.
   intr to complain, esp repeatedly

   he was beefing about his tax

2. informal.
   troften foll byup to strengthen; reinforce

Other Words From

• beefless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of beef¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; 1885–90 beef fordef 5; Middle English, from Anglo-French beof, Old French boef, from Latin bov- (stem of bōs ) “ox, cow”; akin to cow ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of beef¹

C13: from Old French boef , from Latin bōs ox; see cow ¹

Idioms and Phrases

In addition to the idiom beginning with beef , also see where's the beef .

Example Sentences

O’Malley immediately prioritized improving the work environment, from asking Congress to beef up staffing to challenging the risk-averse work culture that had developed there.

From Salon

I don’t want to create a beef that isn’t there, I just want the title and that’s all.

From BBC

The 35-year-old was listening to them in real time as they co-ordinated their movements and the rooftop lookout beefed about how cold he was.

From BBC

There are different interpretations on how Hindus should treat animals, however cows are considered a sacred animal and many choose not to eat beef, while others avoid meat altogether.

From BBC

We get our beef on Wednesdays, clean it and create all the necessary components including the crepes, mushroom duxelle and puff pastry on Thursdays.

From Salon

Related Words

• meat