bovine

1 of 2

adjective

bo·​vine ˈbō-ˌvīn How to pronounce bovine (audio)
-ˌvēn
1
: of, relating to, or resembling bovines and especially the ox or cow
a bovine disease
2
: having qualities (such as placidity or dullness) characteristic of oxen or cows
had a stupid, bovine expression on his face
bovinely adverb
bovinity noun

bovine

2 of 2

noun

biology : any of a subfamily (Bovinae) of bovids including oxen, bison, buffalo, and their close relatives

Did you know?

Bovine comes from the Latin word for "cow", though the biological family called the Bovidae actually includes not only cows and oxen but also goats, sheep, bison, and buffalo. So bovine is often used technically, when discussing "bovine diseases", "bovine anatomy", and so on. It can also describe a human personality, though it can be a rather unkind way to describe someone. When Hera, the wife of Zeus, is called "cow-eyed", though, it's definitely a compliment, and Zeus fairly melts when she turns those big bovine eyes on him.

Examples of bovine in a Sentence

Adjective She stared at us with a stupid, bovine expression.
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
That common theme is one of the biggest problems with bovine colostrum research: Overall, the studies tend to be…not great. Audrey Bruno, SELF, 11 Apr. 2024 Individuals with dairy allergies or lactose intolerance should avoid bovine colostrum supplements, the dietitian said. Melissa Rudy, Fox News, 10 Feb. 2024 See all Example Sentences for bovine 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bovine.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective and Noun

Late Latin bovinus, from Latin bov-, bos ox, cow — more at cow

First Known Use

Adjective

1721, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1839, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bovine was in 1721

Dictionary Entries Near bovine

Cite this Entry

“Bovine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bovine. Accessed 29 May. 2024.

Kids Definition

bovine

1 of 2 adjective
bo·​vine ˈbō-ˌvīn How to pronounce bovine (audio)
-ˌvēn
1
: of, relating to, or resembling the bovines and especially the ox or cow
2
: slow-moving or patient like an ox or cow

bovine

2 of 2 noun
: any of a group of ruminant mammals including the oxen, bison, and buffalo that have hollow horns and are related to the sheep and goats

Medical Definition

bovine

noun
: an ox (genus Bos) or a closely related animal
bovine adjective
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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