cattle

[ kat-l ]

noun

, (used with a plural verb)

1. bovine animals, especially domesticated members of the genus Bos.
2. Bible. such animals together with other domesticated quadrupeds, as horses, swine, etc.
3. Disparaging. human beings, especially in a large, unruly crowd.

cattle

/ ˈkætəl /

noun

1. bovid mammals of the tribe Bovini (bovines), esp those of the genus Bos
2. Also calleddomestic cattle any domesticated bovine mammals, esp those of the species Bos taurus (domestic ox)

Other Words From

• cattle·less adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of cattle¹

1175–1225; Middle English catel < Old North French: (personal) property < Medieval Latin capitāle wealth; capital ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of cattle¹

C13: from Old Northern French catel, Old French chatel chattel

Example Sentences

For Alison Van Eenennaam, an animal geneticist at the University of California, Davis, part of the answer is creating more efficient cattle that rely on fewer resources.

From Singularity Hub 

So the question isn’t just if the technology will work in developing supercharged cattle, but whether consumers and regulators will support it.

From Singularity Hub 

Agricultural sources, such as cattle ranches and paddy fields, were responsible for a 10-million-ton rise in emissions from South Asia and Oceania and a surge almost as big in Africa, the authors estimate.

From Science News

It also means that prairies make good farmland for corn, wheat or cattle.

From Science News For Students

Because the way I think about this long-term, presumably a firm like Cargill can win the future with alternative “meat” in a way that a cattle rancher can’t.

From Freakonomics

Humans spent a long time domesticating cattle, and what they were trying to do, in essence, was de-domesticate them.

From The Daily Beast

They just reflect the range of breeds that were used to create the Heck cattle in the first instance.

From The Daily Beast

You will find winding pasture for sheep and highland cattle.

From The Daily Beast

Duarte owns a small plot of land where she grazes cattle and grows beans, maize, bananas, and oranges.

From The Daily Beast

While not the most stimulating for those less passionate about cattle, Grandin made it interesting.

From The Daily Beast

Everywhere cattle were being sold for a trifle, as there was no grass upon which they could feed.

From Project Gutenberg

"I told them there was not an Indian in this village would steal cattle," said Ramona, indignantly.

From Project Gutenberg

At length he thought of “Cattle” as a figure word to enable him to remember the number.

From Project Gutenberg

And probably you would continue to let sections of it to men that wanted to raise cattle or horses on a small scale.

From Project Gutenberg

Bel is broken, Nebo is destroyed: their idols are put upon beasts and cattle, your burdens of heavy weight even unto weariness.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• herd
• oxen