beef
the flesh of a cow, steer, or bull raised and killed for its meat.
an adult cow, steer, or bull raised for its meat.
Informal.
brawn; muscular strength.
strength; power.
weight, as of a person.
human flesh.
Slang.
a complaint.
an argument or dispute.
Slang. to complain; grumble.
beef up,
to add strength, numbers, force, etc., to; strengthen: During the riots, the nighttime patrol force was beefed up with volunteers.
to increase or add to: to beef up our fringe benefits.
Origin of beef
1Other words from beef
- beefless, adjective
Words Nearby beef
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use beef in a sentence
Thanks to ranching techniques used by The Perennial’s suppliers, one pound of beef is offset by 45 pounds of carbon sequestered in the soil.
This restaurant duo want a zero-carbon food system. Can it happen? | Bobbie Johnson | September 24, 2020 | MIT Technology ReviewEverything from lumber, coins, ammo, beef, to medical supplies has been affected.
Looking to a buy a car? A national shortage means you’ll probably pay more | Lance Lambert | September 20, 2020 | FortuneThis is the biggest issue with lab-grown meat, whether beef, pork, or fish—it’s difficult and costly to scale up its production.
This Startup Is Growing Sushi-Grade Salmon From Cells in a Lab | Vanessa Bates Ramirez | September 16, 2020 | Singularity HubMcGunagle will jump out of the plane carrying supplies that include drinking water, food like beef jerky or peanut butter, solution for his contact lenses, and a pound of coffee.
How aerial firefighters battle blazes from the skies | Rob Verger | August 27, 2020 | Popular-ScienceOther biotech techniques hope to improve the beef industry without displacing it.
Biotechnology Could Change the Cattle Industry. Will It Succeed? | Dyllan Furness | August 16, 2020 | Singularity Hub
They became so brown and shriveled that they looked like walking beef jerky with New York accents.
Powerful Congressman Writes About ‘Fleshy Breasts’ | Asawin Suebsaeng | January 7, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTHer first celebrity beef began when Snoop Dogg started Instagramming some pretty vile things about her, seemingly unprovoked.
Solange Smacks Jay Z, Legolas Slaps Bieber, and the Biggest Celebrity Feuds of the Year | Amy Zimmerman | December 24, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTChampagne, which is also acidic, offers a nice complement to anything from tuna tartare to beef bourguignon.
Veselka layered its latke with pork goulash, and Toloache added beef short rib chorizo.
The freezer is filled with meat, sides of beef and large pieces of lamb.
Alfred Hitchcock’s Fade to Black: The Great Director’s Final Days | David Freeman | December 13, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTWhile this was being done, Ramona would dry the beef which would be their supply of meat for many months.
Ramona | Helen Hunt JacksonAt last, a sirloin of beef was set before him, on which his empty stomach made him feed voraciously.
The Book of Anecdotes and Budget of Fun; | VariousShe's too old for beef, or the butcher would; and she makes out to get her livin' without botherin' nobody much.
Dorothy at Skyrie | Evelyn RaymondThe ship's company were supplied daily with fresh beef and vegetables.
Stuffing their crackers and dried beef into their pockets, they ran out of the house and to their machines.
Motor Matt's "Century" Run | Stanley R. Matthews
British Dictionary definitions for beef
/ (biːf) /
the flesh of various bovine animals, esp the cow, when killed for eating
plural beeves (biːvz) an adult ox, bull, cow, etc, reared for its meat
informal human flesh, esp when muscular
plural beefs a complaint
(intr) slang to complain, esp repeatedly: he was beefing about his tax
(tr often foll by up) informal to strengthen; reinforce
Origin of beef
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with beef
In addition to the idiom beginning with beef
- beef up
also see:
- where's the beef
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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