beef

SayBEEFUS/bif//biːf/

Pluralbeef (some meanings), beefs (some meanings), beeves (some meanings)

Verbbeefs, beefing, beefed

16 meanings of beef

Practice

1
noununcountable
Meat from a cow.
We had beef and rice for dinner last night.
Grandma's stew has big pieces of beef in it.
UsageSay we had beef for dinner, or a pound of beef.
2
containing cow meatadjective
Made with or containing meat from a cow.
We ordered beef tacos from the food truck.
She made a pot of beef soup for the week.
3
strengthenverbcolloquialtransitive
To make something stronger, bigger, or heavier than it was.
They beefed up the fence after the storm knocked it down.
The coach wants to beef up the team's defense.
UsageSay beef up for make stronger.
Similarstrengthen, reinforce, bolster, boost, fortify
Oppositeweaken
Note
4
a quarrelnounslangcountable or uncountable
A problem or angry feeling you have with someone.
He has a beef with his brother about who gets the car.
The fans have a beef with the referee after that last call.
UsageSay he has a beef with his brother.
Similargrudge, gripe, grievance, feud, complaint
Note
5
raised for meatadjective
Used to describe cows raised for meat, or places where many are raised.
Beef cattle spend the summer out in the big field.
She bought two beef calves to raise for the fall market.
6
noununcountable
Cows raised for meat, or one of these animals.
Our neighbor raises beef on his farm, not dairy cows.
That ranch runs about two hundred head of beef.
UsageFarmers say two hundred head of beef.
Similarcattle

Less common meanings

7
nounslanguncountable
Strong muscles, or the strength and power a person or thing has.
He put on a lot of beef lifting weights at the gym.
The new truck has plenty of beef and can pull a heavy trailer.
UsagePut some beef into it means try harder.
Similarmuscle, bulk, brawn, heft, power
Note
8
verbslangintransitive
To complain, especially in an annoyed, ongoing way.
The players beef about practice, but they always show up.
She beefed about the long line at lunch.
UsageSay they beefed about the long line.
Similarcomplain, gripe, grumble, moan, whine
Note
9
verbslangintransitive
To stay angry with someone and keep fighting with them.
The two families beef over an old fence line and never talk.
He has been beefing with his neighbor since the loud party last summer.
UsageSay they are beefing with each other over an old fence.
Similarfeud, quarrel, fight, clash, squabble
Note
10
core contentnounslangfigurativelyuncountable
The most important part of something, like a plan or report.
Like the filling inside a sandwich: the part you really came for.
The opening is just background, and the real beef of the report comes later.
The beef of the book is in the middle chapters.
UsageThe beef of a report is its main part.
Similarmeat
Note
11
heavy-dutyadjectiveslang
Very big and strong, or very powerful.
Similarrobust, powerful, rugged, strong, sturdy
Oppositeweak, flimsy
Note
12
mess upverbslangtransitive
To fail at something or do it very badly.
He beefed the easy catch in the last inning.
Don't beef this test. You studied hard for it.
UsagePut what went wrong after beefed: I beefed the test.
Similarbotch, flub, fluff, muff, blow
Oppositenail, ace
Note
13
verbslangintransitive
To fart. To let gas out of your body.
Try not to beef during the quiet part of the movie.
Somebody beefed in the elevator, and everyone held their breath.
UsageFor a gentler expression, say pass gas.
Similarfart, trump
Note
14
verbslangAustralia
To sing or shout in a very loud voice.
15
verbdialectalYorkshire
To cry. To let tears fall when you are sad or hurt.
16
noun
A kind of limestone made of thin fibers, found in layers between softer rocks.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of beef apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

It came through Middle English from Old French "buef" (ox), from Latin "bōs" (ox). The meaning "a complaint or grudge" was originally American slang from the late 1800s.

Checked 30 Oct 2026 · 3 facts

Beef came through Middle English from Old French buef, meaning ox. en.wiktionary.org
The word ultimately derives from Latin bōs, meaning ox. en.wikipedia.org
The complaint or grudge sense originated as American slang in the late nineteenth century. en.wiktionary.org