cowed

UK: /ˈkaʊd/

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

cow¹ /kaʊ/   n. [countable]

1. Zoology the mature female of cattle:
   The cows were kept for their milk.
2. Animal Husbandry, Zoology, Informal Terms Informal. a domestic bovine of either sex and any age:
   Look at all the cows in the field.
3. Zoology the female of various other large animals, such as the elephant.

Idioms

4. Idioms have a cow,[Slang.]  to become very excited or angry;
   have a fit:
   told his teacher not to have a cow just because he forgot his homework.

cow•like, adj. 

cow² /kaʊ/   v. [~ + object]

1. to frighten with threats;
   intimidate:
   I was cowed into agreeing with the boss.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

cow¹  (kou), n., pl. cows, (Archaic) kine. 

1. Zoology the mature female of a bovine animal, esp. of the genus Bos.
2. Zoology the female of various other large animals, as the elephant or whale.
3. Animal Husbandry, Zoology, Informal Terms [Informal.] a domestic bovine of either sex and any age.
4. Slang Terms (disparaging and offensive). a large, obese, and slovenly woman.
5. Slang Terms [Offensive.] a woman who has a large number of children or is frequently pregnant.
6. Idioms till or until the cows come home, for a long time;
   forever:
   You can keep arguing till the cows come home, but I won't change my mind.

• bef. 900; Middle English cou, Old English cū; cognate with German Kuh, Dutch koe, Old Norse kȳr, Latin bōs, Greek boûs ox; compare bovine, gaur

cow′like′, adj. 

cow²  (kou), v.t. 

1. to frighten with threats, violence, etc.;
   intimidate;
   overawe.

• Old Norse kūga to oppress, cow; compare Danish kue to cow
• 1595–1605

Synonyms

terrorize, scare, bully.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

cow / kaʊ/ noun

1. the mature female of any species of cattle, esp domesticated cattle
2. the mature female of various other mammals, such as the elephant, whale, and seal
3. (not in technical use) any domestic species of cattle
4. a disagreeable woman
5. something objectionable (esp in the phrase a fair cow)

Etymology: Old English cū; related to Old Norse kӯr, Old High German kuo, Latin bōs, Greek boūs, Sanskrit gāŭs

cow / kaʊ/ verb

1. (transitive) to frighten or overawe, as with threats

Etymology: 17th Century: from Old Norse kūga to oppress, related to Norwegian kue, Swedish kuva