moo

Pluralmoos

Formsmoos, mooing, mooed

1. 1
   nouncountableonomatopoeic

   The deep, drawn-out lowing sound characteristic of cattle.

   A deep moo rolled across the pasture as the sun set.

   Every moo from the herd grew louder as feeding time drew near.

   Note

   Imitative from the start, the word is built to sound like what it names, which is why one form can serve as noun, verb and call. As a noun it counts like any other: one moo, a chorus of moos. A moo is a single call, while lowing describes the same sound as an ongoing activity.

2. 2
   verbintransitive

   To make the deep lowing sound characteristic of a cow or bull.

   Cattle moo to call their calves back across the field.

   The bull mooed restlessly as dark clouds gathered overhead.

   Similarlow, bellow

3. 3
   interjection

   Used to imitate or represent the lowing sound of a cow or bull.

   Moo, went the picture book each time he turned the page.

   She held up the farm card and said, "Moo!"

   Note

   An imitation rather than a description: the word is onomatopoeic, shaped to copy the noise it names. It shares that origin with the noun for lowing and the verb for what cattle do. As an interjection it stands alone as the sound itself. It typically follows says in the patterned talk used with small children, as in the cow says moo.

4. 4
   nounslangderogatoryUKcountable

   A foolish woman; used as a derogatory British slang term.

   Don't be such a silly moo. You've left your keys in the door again.

   She called her sister a right daft moo for forgetting the address.

   Similarcow

   Note

   A mild British put-down for a woman judged foolish, usually propped up by an adjective: silly moo, daft moo, or the sanctimonious moo of David Mitchell's Cloud Atlas (2004). The adjective carries most of the charge. It stings less than a serious insult, but it is still derogatory and aimed at women, so it belongs to familiar, teasing speech, if anywhere.

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