[beef] n, pl beefs or beeves [ME, fr. OF buef ox, beef, fr. L bov-, bos head of cattle--more at cow] (14c) 1: the flesh of an adult domestic bovine (as a steer or cow) used as food
2. a: an ox, cow, or bull in a full-grown or nearly full-grown state; esp: a steer or cow fattened for food "quality Texas beeves" "a herd of good ~" b: a dressed carcass of a beef animal
3: muscular flesh: brawn
4. pl beefs: complaint
[2]beef vt (1860): to add substance, strength, or power to--usu. used with up "money to ~ up its staff of professional economists --John Fischer" ~ vi: complain