Cow
/kaʊ/
Definitions
2 meaningsAn adult female bovine animal, kept for its milk or meat.
/kaʊ/
A fully grown female animal of the species *Bos taurus*
The farmer owns a herd of cows.
💡 Simply: A cow is a big, gentle animal that gives us milk! Imagine a big, friendly dog that produces the yummiest milk for your cereal!
👶 For kids: A cow is a mommy animal that says moo and gives us milk!
More Examples
The children loved watching the cows graze in the pasture.
Milk comes from cows.
How It's Used
"The farmer milked the cow every morning."
"We saw a field full of cows on our drive."
To intimidate someone; cause someone to submit through fear.
/kaʊ/
To intimidate or make someone feel afraid to do something
The dictator tried to cow the population into submission.
💡 Simply: To cow someone means to scare them or make them do something because they are afraid. Like, if a big kid threatens to take your toy, they're trying to 'cow' you into giving it up!
👶 For kids: To 'cow' someone means to scare them into doing what you want.
More Examples
His threats were intended to cow his opponents.
She wouldn't be cowed by his aggressive behavior.
How It's Used
"The bully tried to cow the smaller children into giving him their lunch money."
"The threat was designed to cow the witnesses into silence."
Idioms & expressions
have a cow
To become very upset or angry.
"My mom had a cow when she saw the mess in my room."
From Old English *cū*, from Proto-Germanic *kō*, from Proto-Indo-European *gʷṓws*. Related to Sanskrit *gā́* and Greek *boûs*.
The word 'cow' has been a staple in the English language since Old English. It's consistently referred to the female bovine animal.
Memory tip
Think of the sounds 'moo' and the gentle giants that give us milk.
Word Origin
"Horned animal; cow"