kye

Noun

cow (countable and uncountable, plural cows or cattle or (archaic or dialectal) kye or kine)

1. (strictly) An adult female of the species Bos taurus, especially one that has calved.
   • The whole herd is out to pasture right now — the cows, calves, and heifers are out back, and the bulls are down by the creek.
2. (broadly, informal) Any member of the species Bos taurus that is not of a bucking breed or fighting breed, regardless of sex or age, including steers and calves.
   • We saw lots of cows at the farm show, including some surprisingly gigantic bulls.

   Synonyms:

   cattle beast

3. (uncommon, uncountable) Beef: the meat of cattle as food.
   • The only meat I eat is cow.
4. (uncommon) Any bovines or bovids generally, including yaks, buffalo, etc.
5. A female member of other large species of mammal, including the bovines, moose, whales, seals, hippos, rhinos, manatees, and elephants.
6. (Ireland, UK, derogatory, informal) A woman considered unpleasant in some way, particularly one considered nasty, stupid, fat, lazy, or difficult.
   • […] the worst insult to a woman, either in London or Paris, is "cow"; a name which might even be a compliment, for cows are among the most likeable of animals.1933 January 9, George Orwell [pseudonym; Eric Arthur Blair], chapter XXXII, in Down and Out in Paris and London, London: Victor Gollancz […], →OCLC

   Synonyms:

   bitch, bastard

See all 13 meanings of cow