cattle

/'kætl/

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Explanation of the Word "Cattle"

Definition: The word "cattle" refers to domesticated animals such as cows, bulls, and steers. It is used to describe these animals as a group, regardless of their sex (male or female) or age (young or old).

Advanced Usage:

In more advanced texts, you might encounter "cattle" used in agricultural or economic discussions, such as: - "The price of cattle has risen due to increased demand for beef."

Word Variants:

• Cow: A female cattle that has given birth.
• Bull: A male cattle.
• Steer: A male cattle that has been castrated.
• Heifer: A young female cattle that has not yet given birth.

Different Meanings:

In some contexts, the word "cattle" can also refer to other large domesticated animals in a broader sense, but it primarily means the bovine animals we discussed.

Synonyms:

• Livestock
• Bovine (though this term is more scientific and can refer to a broader category including cattle)

Idioms:

• "Wait until the cows come home": This idiom means to wait for a very long time or indefinitely.
  • Example: "He will be late for dinner, so you might as well wait until the cows come home!"

Phrasal Verbs:

There aren’t specific phrasal verbs directly related to "cattle," but you might use phrases like "round up cattle" (to gather them together) or "drive cattle" (to move them from one place to another).

Summary:

"Cattle" is a general term for domesticated bovine animals used in farming, and it's important to remember that it is always used in the plural form.

Academic

Noun

1. domesticated bovine animals as a group regardless of sex or age
   • so many head of cattle
   • wait till the cows come home
   • seven thin and ill-favored kine- Bible
   • a team of oxen

Synonyms

• cows
• kine
• oxen
• Bos taurus