beef

plural beefs · plural beeves

1. uncountableThe meat from cattle or other bovines; especially, that from adults.

   I love eating beef.

   2 more examples

   He was cooking beef for lunch.

   But the cars & trucks held cartons of roast chickens, slabs of cheeses, loaves of bread, racks of hotdogs, case upon case of soft drinks, cases of bottled sparkling water, pies, cakes, roast beefs & baked hams.

   2008, Red Jordan Arobateau, Leader of the Pack, page 136

   Synonyms: cowflesh, oxflesh

   1. countableuncountableon product packagingThe edible portions of a cow (including those which are not meat).

      lean finely textured beef

      2 more examples

      boneless lean beef trimmings

      McDonald’s has been vocal about adding more chicken to its menu, which is generally cheaper than beef. CEO Chris Kempczinski said in its most recent earnings call that it’s focused on adding “growth drivers like chicken” in an attempt to reverse slumping sales. Chicken is now on par with beef sales at its restaurants, he added.

      2024 October 3, Jordan Valinsky, “McDonald’s is finally selling the Chicken Big Mac in the US”, in CNN Business, archived from the original on 17 Nov 2024

      Synonyms: cowflesh, oxflesh

   2. broadlyslanguncountableMuscle or musculature; size, strength or potency.

      Put some beef into it! We've got to get the car over the bump.

      1 more example

      We've got to get some beef into the enforcement provisions of that law.

      Synonyms: cowflesh, oxflesh

   3. figurativelyslanguncountableEssence, content; the important part of a document or project.

      The beef of his paper was a long rant about government.

      Synonyms: cowflesh, oxflesh, meat

2. uncountableBovine animals.

   However, there were millions of head of beef roaming the plains of Texas.

   2010 October 21, “Who's the real McCoy? Abilene's Joseph in 8 Wonders contest”, in Abilene Recorder Chronicle

3. CanadaUScountableuncommonplural beevesA bovine (cow or bull) being raised for its meat.

   Do you want to raise beeves?

   5 more examples

   Howbeit, that country bringeth forth certain kinds of goodly great wild bœufes: to wit, the Biſontes, mained with a collar, like Lions: and the Vri, a mightie ſtrong beaſt, and a ſwift: which the ignorant people call Buffles, whereas indeed the Buffle is bred in Affrica, and carieth ſome reſemblance of a calfe rather, or a ſtag.

   1601, C[aius] Plinius Secundus [i.e., Pliny the Elder], “[Book VIII.] Of Scythian beasts, and those that are bred in the North parts.”, in Philemon Holland, transl., The Historie of the World. Commonly Called, The Naturall Historie of C. Plinius Secundus. […], 1st tome, London: […] Adam Islip, →OCLC, pages 199–200

   As when two lions in the ſtill dark night / An herd of beeves ſcatter or num'rous flock / Suddenly, in the abſence of the guard, / So fled the heartleſs Greeks, […]

   1791, Homer, “[The Iliad.] Book XV.”, in W[illiam] Cowper, transl., The Iliad and Odyssey of Homer, Translated into Blank Verse, […], volume I, London: […] J[oseph] Johnson, […], →OCLC, page 394, lines 398–401

   263. If he [one to whom a beef or sheep is loaned] ruins the beef or sheep that was loaned him, he is to return to the owner a beef for a beef and a sheep for a sheep.

   1903 March, Henry Mason Baum, Frederick Bennett Wright, George Frederick Wright, Records of the Past, volume II, part III, page 87, translating the laws of Hammurabi

   Cutting out a Beef for branding

   1920–1930, Photo in the North Dakota State Museum

   I remember I killed a beef one time by myself.

   2012, Bart Reilly, quotee, “Beef”, in Ontario Dialects Project, Toronto: University of Toronto, archived from the original on 05 Jul 2022

4. countableslanguncountableplural beefsA grudge; dislike (of something or someone); lack of faith or trust (in something or someone); a reason for a dislike or grudge. (often + with)

   He's got beef over what you said.

   3 more examples

   He's got a beef with everyone in the room.

   Remember what happened last fall? That's his beef with me.

   All I got is beef with those that violate me / I shall annihilate thee

   1997, “Going Back to Cali”, in Life After Death, performed by The Notorious B.I.G.

5. countableslanguncountableA criminal charge.

   I'm in prison for attempting to kill two police officers (a genuine bum beef) and am alleged to be a part of a group of mad bombers.

   1986 February 15, Ed Mead, “untitled”, in Gay Commmunity News, volume 7, number 29, page 8

   1 more example

   The man most recently murdered is said to have been a key defense witness in the trial of two other Indians facing hanging beefs for their alleged killing of a guard.

   1986 February 15, Ed Mead, “untitled”, in Gay Commmunity News, volume 7, number 29, page 9

6. countableuncountableDorsetFibrous calcite or limestone, especially when occurring in a jagged layer between shales in Dorset.

   Medium-grey paper shales with beef.

   1993, Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, Proceedings - Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, volumes 114-115, page 190

   2 more examples

   Clays, shales, sands, red and green marls, and alum shale, with occasional layers of "beef" (fibrous carbonate of lime) […] Chief "Beef" Beds, Dark (alum) shales with "beef" and selenite, beds of limestone, and layers of perished shells. Cyrena and Cyrides. Corbula Beds. Layers of shelly limestone, shale, alum shale, and marl, with "beef" and selenite.

   1895, Geological Survey of Great Britain, The Jurassic Rocks of Britain: Pub. by Order of the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury, page 243

   […] beds of limestone and thin layers of 'beef' (fibrous calcite)[…]

   2007 May 10, Robin McInnes, Jenny Jakeways, Helen Fairbank, Emma Mathie, Landslides and Climate Change: Challenges and Solutions: Proceedings of the International Conference on Landslides and Climate Change, Ventnor, Isle of Wight, UK, 21-24 May 2007, CRC Press, →ISBN, page 421

present singular third person beefs · participle present beefing · participle past beefed · past beefed

1. intransitiveslangTo complain.

   "Who's Precious?" she beefed when she saw the big tattoo running down my inner arm.

   2006, Noire [pseudonym], Thug-A-Licious: An Urban Erotic Tale, New York, N.Y.: One World, Ballantine Books, →ISBN, page 131

   1 more example

   “Don't you like the Red Room?” “The Red Room!” I gathered from his manner that he had not come to beef about his sleeping accommodation.

   1960, P[elham] G[renville] Wodehouse, chapter X, in Jeeves in the Offing, London: Herbert Jenkins, →OCLC

2. slangtransitiveTo add weight or strength to.

   First off, the axle housing was beefed by welding areas where extreme loading is evident (black marked areas).

   1969, Hot Rod, volume 22, page 59

   Synonyms: beef up

3. intransitiveslangTo fart; break wind.

   Ugh, who just beefed in here?

4. YorkshireintransitiveTo cry.

   David was beefing last night after Ruth told him off.

5. slangtransitiveTo fail or mess up.

   I beefed my presentation hard yesterday.

6. Multicultural London Englishintransitiveslangchiefly African-American VernacularTo feud or hold a grudge against.

   Those two are beefing right now — best you stay out of it.

7. AustraliaintransitiveslangTo sing or speak loudly; to cry out.

1. not comparableBeing a bovine animal that is being raised for its meat.

   We bought three beef calves this morning.

2. not comparableProducing or known for raising lots of beef.

   beef farms

   1 more example

   beef country

3. not comparableConsisting of or containing beef as an ingredient.

   beef stew

4. not comparableslangBeefy; powerful; robust.

   Wow, your audio setup is beef!