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Synonyms

cow

1 American  
[kou] / kaʊ /

noun

plural

cows,

plural

kine

  1. the mature female of a bovine animal, especially of the genus Bos.

  2. the female of certain other mammals, as elephants, seals, and whales.

  3. Informal. a domestic bovine of either sex and any age.

  4. Slang: Disparaging and Offensive.

    1. a contemptible woman, especially one who is fat, stupid, lazy, etc.

    2. a woman who has a large number of children or is frequently pregnant.

idioms

  1. have a cow, to become very angry or upset; throw a fit.

    My mom will have a cow when she hears I'm moving.

  2. till / until the cows come home, for a long time; forever.

    You can keep arguing till the cows come home, but I won't change my mind.
cow 2 American  
[kou] / kaʊ /

verb (used with object)

  1. to frighten with threats, violence, etc.; intimidate; overawe.

    Synonyms:
    bully, scare, terrorize
cow 1 British  
/ kaʊ /

noun

  1. the mature female of any species of cattle, esp domesticated cattle

  2. the mature female of various other mammals, such as the elephant, whale, and seal

  3. (not in technical use) any domestic species of cattle

  4. informal a disagreeable woman

  5. slang something objectionable (esp in the phrase a fair cow )

  6. informal for a very long time; effectively for ever

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
cow 2 British  
/ kaʊ /

verb

  1. (tr) to frighten or overawe, as with threats

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
cow More Idioms  

    More idioms and phrases containing cow

Other Word Forms

  • cowlike adjective

Etymology

Origin of cow1

First recorded before 900; Middle English cou, cu, Old English cuu, cū; cognate with German Kuh, Dutch koe, Old Norse kȳr, Sanskrit gáuḥ “ox, cow,” Latin bōs “ox, cow,” Greek boûs “ox, cow”; bovine, gaur

Origin of cow2

First recorded in 1610–20; perhaps from Old Norse kūga “to oppress, cow”; compare Norwegian kue “to cow”

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.

In the U.S., a combination of persistent drought and high costs in 2022 forced producers to kill 13.3% of the national beef cow herd, the highest proportion ever.

From Salon • Apr. 8, 2026

"We show that a cow can engage in genuinely flexible tool use," says Antonio Osuna-Mascaró.

From Science Daily • Mar. 26, 2026

On the recent visit to the insectary, several hundred mosquitoes flew around in white mesh cages, serving as participants in a study to see which blood they prefer — pig or cow.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 22, 2026

There are reports that suggest some regions in India are witnessing a spike in timber sales, while others see increased sales of cow dung cakes - both biomass fuels.

From BBC • Mar. 19, 2026

As the truck started rolling up the driveway, Oscar looked back at Roz and barked, “You smell like cow patties!”

From "The Wild Robot Escapes" by Peter Brown

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.