From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishbeefbeef1 /biːf/ ●●● S3 noun 1 [uncountable]DF the meat from a cow roast beef We have both dairy and beef cattle on the farm.2 [countable] informalCOMPLAIN a complaint OK, so what’s the beef this time?3 → where’s the beef? → corned beef
Examples from the Corpus
beef• But does that mean you don't need to worry about the risks of eating beef?• In the land of the cowboy you might expect beef to be an unfailingly popular dish.• Since 1975 the consumption of beef has decreased from 89 pounds per capita to 76. 5 pounds per capita.• Good old rice mixed with chicken or beef.• The prime beef is aged on the premises.• If pastrami is too strong a flavour for your taste, then use roast beef or ham instead.• In the meantime, the milk remains ideal for cheese-making and the breed's beef production is creditable for a dairy type.• Toucans sit in cages and aluminum pots steam with hot food, stewed beef and chicken or sausage and potatoes.beefbeef2 verb [intransitive] informalCOMPLAIN to complain a lotbeef about They’re always beefing about something. → beef something ↔ up→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
beef• Casino security officials said their forces were beefed by a third, but they had little trouble during the game.• Admittedly, these were early days in the season, before the tough training schedule at Richmond had beefed up fitness levels.• Everything has been beefed up, from the sound to the onstage visuals, now in dazzling Human League proportions.• The program gives money to primarily low-income schools to beef up staff and resources for individualized instruction to disadvantaged children.• They can beef up your status if you're a society hostess.beef about• They're always beefing about how much work I give them.Origin beef1 (1100-1200) Old French buef, from Latin bos “ox” 