beef
/biːf/ (bre, ipa) · /biːf/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈbēf/ (ame, mw)
beef — noun
- beefsingular
- beefsplural
1. the flesh of adult cattle (cows and bulls) that people cook and eat as food in m
the flesh of adult cattle (cows and bulls) that people cook and eat as food in meals such as steaks, roasts, or stews
Grandma roasted a large piece of beef for Sunday dinner.
collocation: roast beef
The chef sliced the beef thinly and served it with roasted potatoes.
Beef prices have gone up this year because of the drought.
Do you prefer ground beef or diced beef in your chilli recipe?
- meat
broader category — all animal flesh eaten as food, not just cattle
用法筆記
Beef refers only to the meat, not the live animal. The live animal is called a cow (female) or bull (male). When cooked as a thick slice, it is called steak; when cooked slowly as a large piece, it is called a roast.
常見錯誤
2. a reason for complaining about someone or something; something that someone thin
a reason for complaining about someone or something; something that someone thinks is unfair, annoying, or wrong
Oliver's main beef with the apartment was the noisy neighbours upstairs.
pattern: have a beef with [place/thing]
Diego had a beef with the referee after the match.
The night-shift nurse had a beef about the broken coffee machine in the break room.
I have no beef with you about the schedule change.
文法句型
have a beef with [someone/something]
have a beef about [something]
用法筆記
Always used in the phrase 'have a beef with/about (something)'. Unlike 'complaint', it does not refer to formal written complaints made to an authority. This sense is not used in polite or formal situations.
常見錯誤
3. physical strength, muscular power, or force — especially used in contexts of spo
physical strength, muscular power, or force — especially used in contexts of sports, manual work, or machinery
The builders needed more beef to lift the heavy wooden beams.
meaning: physical strength, manual work context
The team lacks beef in defence — they need bigger, stronger players.
The truck's diesel engine has enough beef to pull a loaded trailer up a steep hill.
- weakness
opposite of strength in any sense
用法筆記
Uncountable. Often used when talking about the physical build of a person or group ('has plenty of beef'), or the power of a machine. The related adjective 'beefy' is more common in everyday conversation.
beef — verb
- beefpresent simple I / you / we / they
- beefs3rd person singular
- beefing-ing form
- beefedpast simple
1. to complain about something in a persistent or grumbling way, especially about e
to complain about something in a persistent or grumbling way, especially about everyday annoyances or minor problems
Kiran was beefing about the cold coffee in the staff room.
beef about [topic]
The passengers kept beefing about the delayed flight to Nairobi.
Stop beefing and just get on with your work.
Amara beefed that nobody ever listens to her ideas during meetings.
- praise
to express approval instead of dissatisfaction
文法句型
beef about [something]
beef at [someone]
beef that-clause
用法筆記
Intransitive — always followed by 'about' (topic) or 'at' (person). Can also take a that-clause ('beef that...'). Considered slang; avoid in formal writing or polite conversation. The noun sense 'have a beef' is related but uses a different grammatical structure.