Word
bovine
US/ˈboʊˌvaɪn/
UK/bˈəʊvaɪn/
Definition
adj. relating to cows or oxen. It can also describe a person who seems slow, calm, and perhaps a bit dull.
adj. relating to or affecting cattle; by extension, describes a person who is slow-moving, placid, or dull-witted.
Examples
“The scientist studied bovine diseases on the farm.”
“The farmer implemented new safety measures to prevent the spread of bovine tuberculosis among his herd.”
“The protagonist was described as having a bovine expression, suggesting a lack of intellectual curiosity and a slow, methodical approach to the crisis unfolding around him.”
Examples
simple
“The scientist studied bovine diseases on the farm.”
contextual
“The farmer implemented new safety measures to prevent the spread of bovine tuberculosis among his herd.”
complex
“The protagonist was described as having a bovine expression, suggesting a lack of intellectual curiosity and a slow, methodical approach to the crisis unfolding around him.”
Usage
Typically used as an attributive adjective before a noun; when applied to humans, it often carries a mildly derogatory nuance.
Real-World Examples
“Dairy farmer Mervyn Kelso struggled with the sadness of the empty fields when he lost his entire herd to bovine TB.” “Besides lipids, they have recovered about 2,000 different proteins from bovine muscle using manual STEi, Thirumalaikumar said.” Etymology
PIE word *gʷṓws Borrowed from Late Latin bovīnus (“relating to cattle”), from Latin bōs (“ox”). Cognate to beef.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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