I. ˈbēf noun
( plural beefs ˈbēfs ; or beeves ˈbēvz)
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French beof, bef ox, beef, from Latin bov-, bos head of cattle — more at cow
Date: 14th century
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 ; especially : a steer or cow fattened for food
quality Texas beeves
a herd of good beef
b. : a dressed carcass of a beef animal
3. : muscular flesh : brawn
4. plural beefs : complaint
[
beef 2b: A wholesale cuts: 1 shank, 2 round with rump and shank cut off, 3 rump, 4 sirloin, 5 short loin, 6 flank, 7 rib, 8 chuck, 9 plate, 10 brisket, 11 shank; B retail cuts: a heel pot roast, b round steak, c rump roast, d sirloin steak, e pinbone steak, f short ribs, g porterhouse, h T-bone, i club steak, j flank steak, k rib roast, l blade rib roast, m plate, n brisket, o crosscut shank, p arm pot roast, q boneless neck, r blade roast
]
II. verb
Date: 1860
transitive verb
: to increase or add substance, strength, or power to — usually used with up
money to beef up its staff of professional economists — John Fischer
intransitive verb
: complain
always beef ing about something