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View synonyms for

cow

1

[ kou ]

noun

plural cows, (Archaic) kine.
  1. the mature female of a bovine animal, especially of the genus Bos.
  2. the female of certain other mammals, as elephants, seals, and whales.
  3. Informal. a domestic bovine of either sex and any age.
  4. Slang: Disparaging and Offensive.
    1. a contemptible woman, especially one who is fat, stupid, lazy, etc.
    2. a woman who has a large number of children or is frequently pregnant.


cow

2

[ kou ]

verb (used with object)

  1. to frighten with threats, violence, etc.; intimidate; overawe.

    Synonyms: , ,

cow

1

/ 첹ʊ /

noun

  1. the mature female of any species of cattle, esp domesticated cattle
  2. the mature female of various other mammals, such as the elephant, whale, and seal
  3. not in technical use any domestic species of cattle
  4. informal.
    a disagreeable woman
  5. slang.
    something objectionable (esp in the phrase a fair cow )
  6. till the cows come home informal.
    for a very long time; effectively for ever
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

cow

2

/ 첹ʊ /

verb

  1. tr to frighten or overawe, as with threats
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other Word Forms

  • Ƿ· adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of cow1

First recorded before 900; Middle English cou, cu, Old English cuu, ū; cognate with German Kuh, Dutch koe, Old Norse ̄, Sanskrit áḥ “ox, cow,” Latin ō “ox, cow,” Greek û “ox, cow”; bovine, gaur

Origin of cow2

First recorded in 1610–20; perhaps from Old Norse ū “to oppress, cow”; compare Norwegian kue “to cow”
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Word History and Origins

Origin of cow1

Old English ū; related to Old Norse ӯ, Old High German kuo, Latin ō, Greek ū, Sanskrit ŭ

Origin of cow2

C17: from Old Norse ū to oppress, related to Norwegian kue, Swedish kuva
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Idioms and Phrases

Idioms
  1. have a cow, Slang. to become very angry or upset; throw a fit:

    My mom will have a cow when she hears I'm moving.

  2. till / until the cows come home, for a long time; forever:

    You can keep arguing till the cows come home, but I won't change my mind.

More idioms and phrases containing cow

In addition to the idiom beginning with cow , also see cash cow ; holy cow ; sacred cow ; till the cows come home .
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

“It is also a cash cow and it has an identity for a network, which is truly important.”

From

“An elk is a lot more intimidating than a cow,” Griffin said.

From

Instead of cowing Canadians, President Trump’s threats to annex their country have unleashed a wave of patriotic fervor unmatched in living memory.

From

Bird flu is also spreading beyond poultry, affecting dairy cows, house cats, wild birds, and even seals, disrupting ecosystems.

From

In his first few months in office, Trump has intimidated opponents in politics and media, cowed powerful law firms and even co-opted tech titans who were once among his loudest critics.

From

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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