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View synonyms for ox

ox

1

[ oks ]

noun

, plural ox·en [ok, -s, uh, n] ox·es
  1. the adult castrated male of the genus Bos, used chiefly as a draft animal.
  2. any member of the bovine family.
  3. Informal. a clumsy, stupid fellow.


ox-

2
Chemistry.
  1. a combining form meaning “containing oxygen”:

    oxazine.

Ox.

3

abbreviation for

  1. Oxford.

ox

/ ɒks /

noun

  1. an adult castrated male of any domesticated species of cattle, esp Bos taurus, used for draught work and meat
  2. any bovine mammal, esp any of the domestic cattle


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Other Words From

  • oxlike adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of ox1

First recorded before 900; Middle English oxe, Old English oxa; cognate with Old Frisian oxa, Old Saxon, Old High German ohso, Old Norse uxi, oxi; akin to Welsh ych

Origin of ox2

Short for oxygen

Origin of ox3

From the Medieval Latin word Oxonia

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Word History and Origins

Origin of ox1

Old English oxa; related to Old Saxon, Old High German ohso, Old Norse oxi

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Example Sentences

On one of their trips, Shrem recalled, the two ventured off a trail and Hedaya had a close encounter with an ox.

The speaker lineup includes Saweetie, Korean-American rap duo Year of the Ox, DJ Bella Fiasco, gaming influencer & host Emily Ghoul, Gen.

His company, Livestock Wealth, helps anyone with a smartphone invest in a free-range ox or pregnant cow and enjoy annual growth of up to 14 percent.

From Ozy

Google said, “Take this year by the horns—here’s to this next lunar cycle being as strong as an ox!”

There's no Nicely-Nicely Johnson hanging out in Times Square these days, no Harry the Horse, no Angie the Ox.

The doctors said it was as strong as an ox, considering he was so sedentary.

But generally speaking, unless their personal ox is being gored, few young women seem willing to make waves.

Whoever's ox Obama chooses to gore will probably be a considerably less enthusiastic coalition member come 2016.

They want candidates willing to do whatever it takes—no matter whose ideological ox is gored—to make the economic pain stop.

The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib: but Israel hath not known me, and my people hath not understood.

The calf and the bear shall feed: their young ones shall rest together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.

Blessed are ye that sow upon all waters, sending thither the foot of the ox and the ass.

"Sing," said the Bull, as the stiff, muddy ox-bow creaked and strained.

It was the custom to sacrifice an ox to him, and to write any treaty made with a neighboring people upon the skin.

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What Is The Plural Of Ox?

Plural word for ox

The plural form of ox is oxen. This is one of the few remaining irregular nouns whose plural  derives directly from its original pluralization in Old English. A similar change is made when pluralizing woman (women), man (men), and child (children). 

In some rare instances, ox is pluralized in the more conventional fashion as oxes, but this form is often considered incorrect and should be avoided.

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