Cow — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈkau̇/

Meaning & Definition of Cow

Cow (noun)

  1. the mature female of cattle (genus Bos)
  2. the mature female of various usually large animals (such as an elephant, whale, or moose)
  3. a domestic bovine animal regardless of sex or age

Cow (verb)

  1. to destroy the resolve or courage of; also, to bring to a state or an action by intimidation —used with into

Cow (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to make timid or fearful by or as if by threats

    "a sharp glare cowed the child into being quiet"

    similar: blackjack, bogart, browbeat, bulldoze, bully, bullyrag, hector, intimidate, strong-arm, pick on
    related: bluster, trash-talk, affright, alarm, frighten, horrify, scare, shock, spook, startle, terrify, menace, terrorize, threaten, badger, harass, hound, bludgeon, coerce, compel, constrain, dragoon, force, make, oblige, press, pressure, push around, demoralize, psych (out), unman, unnerve, discompose, disconcert, disquiet, distress, disturb, perturb, upset
    near: cheer, comfort, console, reassure, solace, soothe, embolden, encourage, hearten, steel, convince, persuade

Related Entry: Cow ponies (noun)

Cow ponies is a different word from Cow. The synonyms below are for cow ponies, not for cow.

  1. as in quarter horses, saddle horses

    similar: chargers, coursers, cutting horses, gallopers, hackneys, hacks, mounts, packhorses, prancers, quarter horses, racehorses, saddle horses, trotters, warhorses, workhorses, broncos, mustangs, ponies, bays, blacks, buckskins, chestnuts, duns, palominos, pintos, roans, skewbalds, sorrels, colts, fillies, foals, geldings, mares, stallions, cobs, dobbins, jades, plugs, skates, equids, equines, horses, nags, steeds

Related Entry: Cow pony (noun)

Cow pony is a different word from Cow. The synonyms below are for cow pony, not for cow.

  1. as in quarter horse, saddle horse

    similar: charger, courser, cutting horse, galloper, hack, hackney, mount, packhorse, prancer, quarter horse, racehorse, saddle horse, trotter, warhorse, workhorse, bronco, mustang, pony, bay, black, buckskin, chestnut, dun, palomino, pinto, roan, skewbald, sorrel, colt, filly, foal, gelding, mare, stallion, cob, dobbin, jade, plug, skate, equid, equine, horse, nag, steed

Related Entry: Cow town (noun)

Cow town is a different word from Cow. The synonyms below are for cow town, not for cow.

  1. as in Podunk

    similar: Podunk, bourg, hamlet, townlet, vill, village, whistle-stop, outpost

Related Entry: Cow towns (noun)

Cow towns is a different word from Cow. The synonyms below are for cow towns, not for cow.

  1. as in Podunks

    similar: Podunks, bourgs, hamlets, townlets, villages, vills, whistle-stops, outposts

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Cow

The most common words with a similar meaning to Cow:

blackjack, bogart, browbeat, bulldoze, bully, bullyrag, hector, intimidate, strong-arm, pick on

Related Words for Cow

bluster, trash-talk, affright, alarm, frighten, horrify, scare, shock, spook, startle, terrify, menace, terrorize, threaten, badger, harass, hound, bludgeon, coerce, compel, constrain, dragoon, force, make, oblige, press, pressure, push around, demoralize, psych (out)

Near Antonyms of Cow

cheer, comfort, console, reassure, solace, soothe, embolden, encourage, hearten, steel, convince, persuade

Word Forms of Cow

Inflections: cows, cowed, cowing

Derived words: cowy (adjective), cowedly (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Cow

Middle English cou, from Old English cū; akin to Old High German kuo cow, Latin bos head of cattle, Greek bous, Sanskrit go

First known use: before 12th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Cow

Words & Phrases Containing Cow

cow college, cow horse, cow parsnip, cow pie, cow pony, cow town, ant cow

Frequently Asked Questions about Cow

What does "Cow" mean?

"Cow" means the mature female of cattle (genus Bos). As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: the mature female of cattle (genus Bos).

What is another word for "Cow"?

Other words for "Cow" include blackjack, bogart, browbeat, bulldoze, bully, bullyrag, hector and intimidate. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Cow" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Cow"?

There are 49 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Cow". Common alternatives include blackjack, bogart, browbeat, bulldoze, bully, bullyrag, hector, intimidate, strong-arm and pick on.

How do you use "Cow" in a sentence?

Examples of "Cow" in a sentence: "a sharp glare cowed the child into being quiet".

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

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

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

As a C2-level word, "Cow" is typical of Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE), IELTS band 8.5–9.0, TOEFL iBT 114–120, PTE Academic 85–90. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Cow"?

"Cow" is pronounced /ˈkau̇/.

What is the origin of the word "Cow"?

"Cow" comes from Middle English cou, from Old English cū; akin to Old High German kuo cow, Latin bos head of cattle, Greek bous, Sanskrit go. First known use: before 12th century.