word | bovine |
---|---|
definition | (1) Relating to cows and oxen. (2) Placid, dull, unemotional. |
eg_sentence | In that part of Texas, many of the veterinarians specialize in bovine conditions and won't even deal with dogs or cats. |
explanation | Bovine comes from the Latin word for “cow,” though the biological family called the Bovidae actually includes not only cows and oxen but also goats, sheep, bison, and buffalo. So bovine is often used technically, when discussing “bovine diseases,” “bovine anatomy,” and so on. It can also describe a human personality, though it can be a rather unkind way to describe someone. When Hera, the wife of Zeus, is called “cow-eyed,” though, it's definitely a compliment, and Zeus fairly melts when she turns those big bovine eyes on him. |
IPA | ˈboʊˌvaɪn |
Tags: mwvb::unit:12, mwvb::unit:12:word, mwvb::word, mwvb::word-cloze, mwvb::word-reverse, obsidian_to_anki
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