cattle
noun, plural only (cattle — no singular form; one animal is «a cow», «a bull» or «a head of cattle»)
Everyday
- Cattle are large farm animals such as cows, bulls and steers, kept for milk, meat or leather. tree →
- The word means the whole group of these animals on a farm or ranch. tree →
- Cattle can also be used playfully for other animals kept or herded together, such as sea creatures. tree →
In the lessons
In everyday life and stories cattle live on farms, ranches and stations (in Australia), eat grass and are herded by farmers or by dogs. In science, cattle are mammals that chew the cud and have four parts to their stomach. In maths problems cattle are counted as heads: «200 head of cattle». Phrases: «herd of cattle», «cattle farm», «cattle grid», «beef cattle», «dairy cattle».
Examples
- The cattle were grazing in the field. tree →
- A herd of cattle crossed the road slowly. tree →
- The farmer has three hundred cattle. tree →
- Dairy cattle give us milk. tree →
- Cattle chew the cud for hours each day. tree →
- The ranch sends its cattle to market in the autumn. tree →
- Drive slowly over the cattle grid. tree →
- The dog helped round up the cattle. tree →
- "These beasts are sea-cattle," replied Little Claus. tree →
Note
Cattle is always plural: «the cattle are», never «a cattle» or «cattles». For one animal say «a cow» (female), «a bull» (male), «a calf» (young). «200 head of cattle» means 200 animals. Safety: never walk between a cow and her calf; cattle in fields can charge.
In Jewish tradition
It means farm animals in general, such as oxen, sheep and goats, as well as cows. It stands for a person's wealth and living.
Interpretation. Tradition counts cattle as wealth, and the laws of the Torah also protect them. Animals rested on Shabbat, and the firstborn of cattle belonged to God. The psalms say all the cattle on a thousand hills are God's and call on them to praise Him.
Examples
- And they brought their cattle unto Joseph. (Torah GEN.47.17, JPS 1917) tree →
- And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold. (Torah GEN.13.2, JPS 1917) tree →
- Thus God hath taken away the cattle of your father, and given them to me. (Torah GEN.31.9, JPS 1917) tree →
- Beasts and all cattle, creeping things and winged fowl; (Writings PSA.148.10, JPS 1917) tree →
- The noise thereof telleth concerning it, the cattle also concerning the storm that cometh up. (Writings JOB.36.33, JPS 1917) tree →
- For every beast of the forest is Mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. (Writings PSA.50.10, JPS 1917) tree →
Note
Cattle is always plural: «the cattle are», never «a cattle» or «cattles». For one animal say «a cow» (female), «a bull» (male), «a calf» (young). «200 head of cattle» means 200 animals. Safety: never walk between a cow and her calf; cattle in fields can charge.
Early Modern English
Meaning
Animals kept on a farm, such as cows, sheep, goats or camels, and sometimes wealth. tree →
Then and now
Today it mostly means cows and bulls. In these texts it means all farm animals, and it can stand for wealth.
Examples
- And they brought their cattle unto Joseph. (Torah GEN.47.17, JPS 1917) tree →
- ‘Raleô, raleô, How the cattle go!’ (The Red Fairy Book) tree →
- And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold. (Torah GEN.13.2, JPS 1917) tree →
Note
Today: livestock; farm animals.
On Mova
- Trees and pragmatics of «cattle» in the school dictionary: every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- «cattle» in the school dictionary on Mova free.
- Trees and pragmatics of «cattle» in the Judaism dictionary: every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- «cattle» in the Judaism dictionary on Mova free.
- Trees and pragmatics of «cattle» in the Early Modern English dictionary: every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- «cattle» in the Early Modern English dictionary on Mova free.
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