Word
heifer
US/ˈhaɪfɝ/
UK/hˈɛfɐ/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a young female cow that has not had a calf yet.
n. a young female bovine that has not yet calved, usually under three years of age.
Examples
“The young heifer stays close to its mother.”
“The farmer separates the heifer from the older cows before the morning milking starts.”
“After two harsh winters, the single surviving heifer became the foundation of the family's effort to rebuild their small dairy herd.”
Examples
simple
“The young heifer stays close to its mother.”
contextual
“The farmer separates the heifer from the older cows before the morning milking starts.”
complex
“After two harsh winters, the single surviving heifer became the foundation of the family's effort to rebuild their small dairy herd.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “heifer” in context.
Verb
01. breed heifer
“Most farmers breed heifers for the first time at about eighteen months.”
verb + noun
02. heifer calves
“The heifer calved without difficulty in the early morning.”
noun + verb
03. heifer conceives
“The heifer usually conceives within two breeding cycles.”
noun + verb
04. heifer grazes
“The heifer grazes with the rest of the herd all summer.”
noun + verb
05. heifer matures
“The heifer matures faster when given balanced nutrition.”
noun + verb
Adjective
06. beef heifer
“The beef heifer gained weight quickly on the rich summer grass.”
adj + noun
07. dairy heifer
“Dairy heifers are usually bred for the first time at around fifteen months.”
adj + noun
Noun
08. group of heifers
“A small group of heifers was moved to the new barn.”
noun + prep + noun
09. herd of heifers
“A large herd of heifers grazed in the lower meadow.”
noun + prep + noun
10. a herd of dairy heifers
“A herd of dairy heifers grazed near the river.”
11. a pen of yearling heifers
“A pen of yearling heifers was housed in the new shed.”
12. breed heifers for sale
“The farm breeds heifers for sale to other dairy producers.”
Real-World Examples
“This time of year, as calves arrive, ranchers decide whether to retain young cows called heifers and calves for breeding herds, and a big factor is pasture conditions, said Bernt Nelson, an American Farm Bureau Federation economist.” “A Nigerian farm has already imported over 200 heifers from Denmark, building its herd through intensive breeding, Maiha said.” “Farmer Luz Klotz straightened the brightly striped hair bow on Reba, a 1,600-pound heifer lounging on the ground under twinkling fairy lights.” Etymology
Inherited from Middle English heyfre, hayfre, heyfer, from Old English hēahfore, hēahfru, of disputed origin; see the Old English entry for more discussion.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Idioms
- 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
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/heifer