n.
- the flesh of a cow, bull, or ox, used as food.
▸
(pl. beeves
/biːvz/
)
Farming a cow, bull, or ox fattened for its meat.
- informal flesh with well-developed muscle.
▸strength or power.
▸the substance of a matter.
(pl. beefs)
informal a complaint or grievance.
v.
informal -
(beef something up)
give something more substance or strength.
- complain.
Etymology
ME: from OFr. boef, from L. bos, bov- ‘ox’.