beef

1 of 2

noun

ˈbēf

plural beefs ˈbēfs

or beeves ˈbēvz

Synonyms of beef next

: the flesh of an adult domestic bovine (such as a steer or cow) used as food

: an ox, cow, or bull in a full-grown or nearly full-grown state

especially : a steer or cow fattened for food

quality Texas beeves

a herd of good beef

: a dressed carcass of a beef animal

: muscular flesh : brawn

plural beefs : complaint

Illustration of beef

A wholesale cuts
1 shank
2 round with rump and shank cut off
3 rump
4 sirloin
5 short loin
6 flank
7 rib
8 chuck
9 plate
10 brisket
11 shank
B retail cuts
a heel pot roast
b round steak
c rump roast
d sirloin steak
e pinbone steak
f short ribs
g porterhouse
h T-bone
i club steak
j flank steak
k rib roast
l blade rib roast
m plate
n brisket
o crosscut shank
p arm pot roast
q boneless neck
r blade roast

beef

2 of 2

verb

beefed; beefing; beefs

transitive verb

: to increase or add substance, strength, or power to

—usually used with up

money to beef up its staff of professional economists—

John Fischer

intransitive verb

: complain

always beefing about something

Examples of beef in a Sentence

Noun I'm not eating as much beef as I used to. My real beef is with the organization's president, not the group itself. Verb She's always beefing about something. he tends to stand around and beef for hours about any slight, real or imagined

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Noun

In response, Fleury found Crosby's equipment bag at the rink and decided to play a prank by rubbing Vaseline on his visor, threading his skates on backward, and stuffing beef sticks into his jock strap. —

Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 7 Jan. 2025 In 1930, Warren Monfort founded Monfort Colorado Inc., pioneering the feedlot concept in the beef industry. —

Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post, 6 Jan. 2025

Verb

Cowboy Butter Cook Mode (Keep screen awake) Ingredients 1 1/2 pounds beef sirloin or top loin steak 1/2 tsp. —

Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Jan. 2025 From Baja Shrimp to beef fajitas to Trashy Trailer Parks, every taco on the menu is eligible − including all combinations. —

Alexis Simmerman, Austin American-Statesman, 17 Apr. 2024 See all Example Sentences for beef

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French beof, bef ox, beef, from Latin bov-, bos head of cattle — more at cow

Verb

verbal derivative of beef entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1860, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler

The first known use of beef was in the 13th century

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Beef.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beef. Accessed 19 Jan. 2025.

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Kids Definition

beef

1 of 2 noun

ˈbēf

plural beefs ˈbēfs

or beeves ˈbēvz

: the flesh of a steer, cow, or bull

: a steer, cow, or bull especially when fattened for food

plural beefs : complaint sense 1

beeflike

-ˌlīk

adjective

beef

2 of 2 verb

: to add weight, strength, or power to

—usually used with up

beef up the staff

: complain sense 1

Medical Definition

beef

noun

ˈbēf

plural beefs ˈbēfs

or beeves ˈbēvz

: the flesh of an adult domestic bovine (as a steer or cow) used as food

Last Updated: 9 Jan 2025 - Updated example sentences

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beef

noun

Illustration of beef

verb

Synonyms

Examples of beef in a Sentence

Word History

Dictionary Entries Near beef

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

Medical Definition