Beef — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈbēf/

Meaning & Definition of Beef

Beef (noun)

  1. the flesh of an adult domestic bovine (such as a steer or cow) used as food
  2. an ox, cow, or bull in a full-grown or nearly full-grown state; especially, a steer or cow fattened for food
  3. a dressed carcass of a beef animal

Beef (verb)

  1. to increase or add substance, strength, or power to —usually used with up
  2. complain

Beef (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. an expression of dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment

    "had to deal with an angry customer with a beef about our service"

    similar: bitch, bleat, carp, complaint, fuss, grievance, gripe, grouch, grouse, grumble, holler, kvetch, lament, miserere, moan, murmur, plaint, squawk, wail, whimper, whine, whinge (British), yammer
    related: challenge, demur, expostulation, kick, niggle (chiefly British), objection, protest, quibble, remonstrance, stink
    near: commendation, compliment, plaudit, acclaim, applause, praise, approval, endorsement, sanction

  2. muscular strength

    "a heavyweight wrestler with a good deal of beef"

    similar: brawn, main, muscle, thew
    related: force, might, potency, power, puissance, sinew, energy, vigor
    near: impotence, impotency, weakness, debilitation, debility, enfeeblement, faintness, feebleness, frailness, frailty, infirmity

Beef (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely

    "he tends to stand around and beef for hours about any slight, real or imagined"

    similar: bellyache, bitch, bleat, carp, caterwaul, complain, crab, croak, fuss, gripe, grizzle, grouch, grouse, growl, grumble, grump, holler, inveigh, keen, kick, kvetch, maunder (chiefly British), moan, murmur, mutter, nag, repine, scream, squawk, squeal, wail, whimper, whine, whinge (British), yammer, yawp, yowl, kick up a fuss
    related: object (to), protest, quarrel (with), cavil, quibble, fret, stew, worry, blubber, cry, sob, bemoan, bewail, deplore, lament
    opposite: crow, delight, rejoice
    near: accept, bear, countenance, endure, take, tolerate, applaud, cheer, commend

Related Entry: Beef (up) (verb)

Beef (up) is a different word from Beef. The synonyms below are for beef (up), not for beef.

  1. to increase the ability of (as a muscle) to exert physical force

    "beefed up the walls with iron bars"

    similar: fortify, harden, strengthen, toughen
    related: anneal, temper, firm (up), tone (up), energize, invigorate, vitalize, restrengthen
    opposite: debilitate, enervate, enfeeble, weaken
    near: cripple, incapacitate, paralyze, damage, harm, hurt, impair, injure, break down, wear out, sap, undercut, undermine

  2. to make markedly greater in measure or degree

    "will beef up security for the next few days while the president is in town"

    similar: accentuate, amp (up), amplify, boost, consolidate, deepen, enhance, heighten, intensify, magnify, redouble, step up, strengthen
    related: broaden, enlarge, expand, extend, lengthen, accelerate, hasten, quicken, emphasize, point (up), sharpen, stress, augment, enforce, reinforce, restrengthen, supplement, maximize, enliven, jazz (up), aggravate, exacerbate
    opposite: abate, moderate
    near: decrease, diminish, lessen, let up (on), reduce, subdue, tone (down), weaken, dwindle, recede, subside, taper (off), wane, alleviate, ease, lighten

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Beef

The most common words with a similar meaning to Beef:

British: whinge
Chiefly British: maunder
bitch, bleat, carp, complaint, fuss, grievance, gripe, grouch, grouse, grumble, holler, kvetch, lament, miserere, moan, murmur, plaint, squawk, wail, whimper, whine, yammer, brawn, main, muscle, thew, bellyache, caterwaul, complain, crab, croak, grizzle, growl, grump, inveigh, keen, kick, mutter, nag, repine

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Beef

Words with the opposite meaning of Beef:

crow, delight, rejoice

Related Words for Beef

challenge, demur, expostulation, niggle, objection, protest, quibble, remonstrance, stink, force, might, potency, power, puissance, sinew, energy, vigor, object (to), quarrel (with), cavil, fret, stew, worry, blubber, cry, sob, bemoan, bewail, deplore

Near Antonyms of Beef

commendation, compliment, plaudit, acclaim, applause, praise, approval, endorsement, sanction, impotence, impotency, weakness, debilitation, debility, enfeeblement, faintness, feebleness, frailness, frailty, infirmity, accept, bear, countenance, endure, take, tolerate, applaud, cheer, commend

Word Forms of Beef

Inflections: beefs, beeves, beefed, beefing

Origin & Etymology of Beef

Middle English, from Anglo-French beof, bef ox, beef, from Latin bov-, bos head of cattle cow

First known use: 13th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Beef

Words & Phrases Containing Beef

beef bourguignon, beef cattle, beef Stroganoff, beef Wellington, beef up, chipped beef, Kobe beef

Frequently Asked Questions about Beef

What does "Beef" mean?

"Beef" means the flesh of an adult domestic bovine (such as a steer or cow) used as food. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: the flesh of an adult domestic bovine (such as a steer or cow) used as food. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Beef"?

Other words for "Beef" include bitch, bleat, carp, complaint, fuss, grievance, gripe and grouch. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Beef" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Beef"?

There are 76 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Beef". Common alternatives include bitch, bleat, carp, complaint, fuss, grievance, gripe, grouch, grouse and grumble.

What is the opposite of "Beef"?

Antonyms of "Beef" include crow, delight and rejoice. Near antonyms include commendation, compliment, plaudit and acclaim.

How do you use "Beef" in a sentence?

Examples of "Beef" in a sentence: "had to deal with an angry customer with a beef about our service"; "a heavyweight wrestler with a good deal of beef"; "he tends to stand around and beef for hours about any slight, real or imagined".

Is "Beef" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Beef" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Beef" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A2-level word, "Beef" is typical of Cambridge A2 Key (KET), PTE Academic 30–42, TOEIC Listening & Reading 225+.

How do you pronounce "Beef"?

"Beef" is pronounced /ˈbēf/.