wether
/ˈweð.ər/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈweð.ɚ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈwe-t͟hər How to pronounce wether (audio)/ (ame, mw)
wether — noun
- wethersingular
- wethersplural
1. a fully grown sheep of the male sex, altered so it cannot breed and usually kept
a fully grown sheep of the male sex, altered so it cannot breed and usually kept more calmly for wool or meat
The farmer moved the wether into a separate pen before the veterinary check.
a wether + farm management context
Nadia learned to tell the ram, the ewe, and the wether apart.
contrast with ram and ewe
At the county fair, one calm wether stood quietly while children touched its wool.
The shepherd kept younger wethers on the lower field near the barn.
Because the wether was not used for breeding, it stayed with the lambs.
- sheep
the general word and not specific about sex or breeding status
- male sheep
a descriptive phrase that can also include a breeding ram, so it is less exact than wether
文法句型
a wether
a flock of wethers
keep wethers for wool or meat
用法筆記
Used mainly in farming and veterinary contexts. Unlike a ram, a wether is not kept for breeding; unlike a lamb, it is fully grown.