Definition of: beef

(bēf) noun plural beeves (bēvz) or beefs for def. 2; beefs for def. 4
1. The flesh of a slaughtered adult bovine animal.
2. Any adult bovine animal, as an ox, cow, steer, bull, etc., fattened for the butcher.
3. Colloq. Muscular power; brawn.
4. U.S. Slang A complaint.
—bully beef Canned or pickled beef.
—dried beef Beef preserved by salting and drying, usually in smoke.
—v.i. U.S. Slang To complain or grouse. [< OF boef < L bos, bovis ox]