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Word

cattle

noun (plural) C1
/ˈkætəl/

Meanings

noun (plural)

Large farm animals (cows, bulls, calves) kept for milk, meat, or breeding.

cattle: Large farm animals (cows, bulls, calves) kept for milk, meat, or breeding.
noun (plural)

A group of these animals considered together as livestock on a farm or ranch.

cattle: A group of these animals considered together as livestock on a farm or ranch.

Definition

Cattle are farm animals such as cows and bulls that are kept for milk, meat, or breeding.

Cattle are large domesticated animals raised on farms and ranches, including cows, bulls, and calves. People keep cattle for products like milk and beef, and for breeding. The word is usually treated as a plural noun in English and does not have a common singular form.

Examples

  • I helped move the cattle into the lower field before the storm reached the valley.
  • You can often identify cattle breeds by their body shape, coat pattern, and horn size.
  • She counted the cattle at dusk to make sure none had slipped through the broken gate.
  • They keep their cattle on open pasture all summer and bring them closer to the barns in winter.

Common mistake

Learners often say "a cattle" or use "cattles," but "cattle" is normally a plural noun (use "a cow" for one animal).