\Beef\ (b[=e]f), n. [OE. boef, befe, beef, OF. boef, buef,
F. b[oe]ef, fr. L. bos, bovis, ox; akin to Gr. boy^s, Skr.
g[=o] cow, and E. cow. See 2d {Cow}.]
1. An animal of the genus {Bos}, especially the common
   species, {B. taurus}, including the bull, cow, and ox, in
   their full grown state; esp., an ox or cow fattened for
   food.
Note: [In this, which is the original sense, the word has a
      plural, beeves (b[=e]vz).]
            A herd of beeves, fair oxen and fair kine.
                                               --Milton.
2. The flesh of an ox, or cow, or of any adult bovine animal,
   when slaughtered for food.
Note: [In this sense, the word has no plural.] ``Great meals
      of beef.'' --Shak.
3. Applied colloquially to human flesh.

\Beef\, a.
Of, pertaining to, or resembling, beef.
{Beef tea}, essence of beef, or strong beef broth.