cow

noun

1. (countable, uncountable)An adult female of the species Bos taurus, especially one that has calved.

   “The whole herd is out to pasture right now — the cows, calves, and heifers are out back, and the bulls are down by the creek.”

2. (broadly, countable, informal, uncountable)Any member of the species Bos taurus that is not of a bucking breed or fighting breed, regardless of sex or age, including steers and calves.

   “We saw lots of cows at the farm show, including some surprisingly gigantic bulls.”

3. (uncommon, uncountable)Beef: the meat of cattle as food.

   “The only meat I eat is cow.”

4. (countable, uncommon, uncountable)Any bovines or bovids generally, including yaks, buffalo, etc.
5. (countable, uncountable)A female member of other large species of mammal, including the bovines, moose, whales, seals, hippos, rhinos, manatees, and elephants.
6. (Ireland, UK, countable, derogatory, informal, uncountable)A woman considered unpleasant in some way, particularly one considered nasty, stupid, fat, lazy, or difficult.

   “[…] the worst insult to a woman, either in London or Paris, is "cow"; a name which might even be a compliment, for cows are among the most likeable of animals.”

   “Greville Preston: You've been set up, you silly cow. Now, don't let me hear any more about this unless you have absolute stand-up-in-court proof it's kosher... Mattie Storin: Pig.”

   “By the time of my third, five months ago, I was a right bossy cow about what I wanted because I knew the drill. For reasons I shan’t bore you with, I got them to induce me at 39 weeks, at 10am, with the epidural going in first, and it was all a dream.”

7. (countable, uncountable)A chock: a wedge or brake used to stop a machine or car.
8. (US, countable, slang, uncountable)A third-year cadet at West Point.

   “Colonel Red Reeder, West Point Second Classman An assistant manager, wearing the stripes of a cadet corporal, walked up to Coach Smith. Clint knew him, a Cow from B-l. What had he done to become so outstanding that the Tacs made him a corporal?”

   “When I was a cow (junior) at West Point, I dated a plebe (freshman), which is considered fraternization in the cadet realm.”

9. (countable, slang, uncountable)A fish that is very large for its species, such as a large striped bass or large bluefin tuna.
10. (UK, dialectal)A chimney cowl.

    “Who could live to gaze from day to day on bricks and slates, who had once felt the influence of a scene like this? Who could continue to exist, where there are no cows but the cows on the chimneypots; nothing redolent of Pan but pan-tiles; […]”

11. LFBOT: Synonym of luminous fast blue optical transient.
12. (abbreviation, acronym, alt-of, uncountable)Acronym of copy-on-write.
13. (abbreviation, acronym, alt-of, uncountable)Acronym of chief of watch.
14. (abbreviation, alt-of, initialism)Initialism of clerk of works.

verb

1. (transitive)To intimidate; to daunt the spirits or courage of.

   “Con artists are not cowed by the law.”

   “To vanquish a people already cowed.”

   “Emily looked across at the girl. Large, steady, purplish-grey eyes gazed into beady, twinkling, black ones—gazed unquailingly—with something in them that cowed and compelled. The black eyes wavered and fell, their owner covering her retreat with another giggle and toss of her short braid of hair.”

name

1. (alt-of, alternative)Alternative form of C of W.
2. (countable, uncountable)A surname
3. (abbreviation, alt-of, countable, ellipsis, uncountable)A placename
4. (abbreviation, alt-of, countable, ellipsis, uncountable)A placename
5. (abbreviation, alt-of, countable, ellipsis, uncountable)A placename
6. (abbreviation, alt-of, countable, ellipsis, uncountable)A placename