beef

n. [ OE. boef, befe, beef, OF. boef, buef, F. bœef, fr. L. bos, bovis, ox; akin to Gr. boy^s, Skr. gō cow, and E. cow. See 2d Cow. ] 1. An animal of the genus Bos, especially the common species, Bos taurus, including the bull, cow, and ox, in their full grown state; esp., an ox or cow fattened for food. [ In this, which is the original sense, the word has a plural, beeves ] [ 1913 Webster ]

A herd of beeves, fair oxen and fair kine. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The flesh of an ox, or cow, or of any adult bovine animal, when slaughtered for food. [ In this sense, the word has no plural. ] “Great meals of beef.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Applied colloquially to human flesh. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. a hardy breed of beef cattle derived as a cross between the American bison and domestic cattle, usually being genetically 3/8 bison and 5/8 domestic bovine; -- it yields leaner beef than conventional breeds. [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]

n. a fried cake of minced beef served on a bun.
Syn. -- hamburger. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ Beef + eater; prob. one who eats another's beef, as his servant. Cf. AS. hlāf&aemacr_;ta servant, properly a loaf eater. ] 1. One who eats beef; hence, a large, fleshy person. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One of the yeomen of the guard, in England. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Zool.) An African bird of the genus Buphaga, which feeds on the larvæ of botflies hatched under the skin of oxen, antelopes, etc. Two species are known. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. made greater or stronger. beefed-up sales efforts [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. A steak of beef; a slice of beef broiled or suitable for broiling. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Stupid; dull. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. An Australian tree (Casuarina), and its red wood, used for cabinetwork; also, the trees Stenocarpus salignus of New South Wales, and Banksia compar of Queensland. [ 1913 Webster ]