n. & v.
--n.
1. the flesh of the ox, bull, or esp. the cow, for eating.
2 colloq. well-developed male muscle.
3 (pl. beeves or US beefs) a cow, bull, or ox fattened for beef; its carcass.
4 (pl. beefs) sl. a complaint; a protest.
--v.intr. sl. complain.
Phrases and idioms:
beef tea stewed extract of beef, given to invalids. beef up sl. strengthen, reinforce, augment. beef-wood
1. any of various Australian and W. Indian hardwood trees.
2 the close-grained red timber of these.
Etymology: ME f. AF, OF boef f. L bos bovis ox