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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Beef - 英语词汇详解 (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：beef (Beef)

Beef 🔊

/biːf/

n./v.

The meat that comes from a cow, used as food.

beef 🔊

➕

/biːf/

n./v.

The flesh of a cow used as food, typically from cattle raised for slaughter.

📁 Category：Diet & Health 🔖 Level：beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Old French 'boef', Latin 'bos' (ox). The meat term emerged after the Norman Conquest.

💡 Mnemonic

Imagine a 'bee' landing on a juicy 'f' (steak) – bee-f, beef!

📖 Example

I think I'll order the grilled beef with vegetables for dinner tonight. 🔊 I think I'll order the grilled beef with vegetables for dinner tonight.

🔗 Collocations

roast beef – a large piece of beef cooked in an oven

beef stew – a dish of beef and vegetables simmered slowly

ground beef – beef that has been minced or finely chopped

🔄 Synonyms

steak (n.) – a thick slice of high-quality beef, often grilled or fried

roast (n.) – a piece of meat (usually beef) cooked by prolonged exposure to heat

🚫 Antonyms

vegetable (n.) – a plant or part of a plant used as food, in contrast to meat

🌱 Derivatives

beefy (adj.) – muscular or strong, resembling beef in texture

beefcake (n.) – a muscular man, often displayed as a sex symbol

📖 Cultural Story

After 1066, French-speaking nobles ate 'beef' (from French 'boeuf'), while English peasants raised 'cows'. This linguistic divide still reflects class history.

Meaning 2：complain (Beef)

Beef 🔊

/biːf/

n./v.

(Informal) To complain or express dissatisfaction about something.

complain 🔊

➕

/kəmˈpleɪn/

n./v.

To express dissatisfaction or annoyance about something, often in a persistent or petty way.

📁 Category：Social Roles 🔖 Level：intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

He always has a beef with the new schedule, saying it's too tight. 🔊 He always has a beef with the new schedule, saying it's too tight.

🔗 Collocations

have a beef with – to have a specific complaint or grievance against someone or something

beef about – to complain persistently about a particular issue

beef up – to strengthen or improve something (different sense, but related slang)

🔄 Synonyms

grumble (v.) – to complain in a low, quiet, or sulky manner

whine (v.) – to complain in a feeble, petulant, or nasal tone

🚫 Antonyms

praise (v.) – to express approval or admiration for someone or something

accept (v.) – to tolerate or agree to something without complaint

🌱 Derivatives

beefing (n.) – the act of complaining continuously