bovine
Americanadjective
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of or relating to the subfamily Bovinae, which includes cattle, buffalo, and kudus.
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oxlike; cowlike.
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stolid; dull.
noun
adjective
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of, relating to, or belonging to the Bovini (cattle), a bovid tribe including domestic cattle
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(of people) dull; sluggish; stolid
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of bovine
1810–20; < Late Latin bovīnus of, pertaining to oxen or cows, equivalent to Latin bov- (stem of bōs ) ox + -īnus -ine 1
Explanation
If something is bovine, it has to do with cows or cattle, or it reminds you of the slow and seemingly unintelligent ways of cows and cattle. Someone's glacial pace and dull comments might contribute to his thoroughly bovine impression. The adjective bovine is used for anything that has to do with animals from the genus “Bos,” which classifies wild and domestic cattle. Mad Cow Disease is technically known as bovine spongiform encephalopathy, and it can be said to have bovine origins. What are known as cow pies are, in fact, bovine droppings. People can be described as bovine if they are intellectually dull, slow-moving, or somewhat cow-like in their appearance.
Vocabulary lists containing bovine
A Lexical Zoo of Animal Adjectives
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Tuck Everlasting
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100 SAT Words Beginning with "B"
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Vaccination is part of a programme to eradicate bovine TB in Wales, but it is a controversial topic.
From BBC ● Sep. 7, 2026
The Welsh government said it was "renewing" its approach to eradicating bovine TB.
From BBC ● Sep. 7, 2026
Prices rose across all meat types except ovine, with bovine meat reaching a new peak due to limited supplies in Brazil and strong Chinese demand.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 8, 2026
But the clear pill cases were filled with about 6,500 mosquito eggs and bovine liver powder.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 22, 2026
The Lordsport men gazed on Theon with blank, bovine eyes, and he realized that they did not know who he was.
From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin
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.
