mad cow
The term "mad cow" is commonly used to refer to a serious neurological disease in cattle, formally known as Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE).
🇺🇸 US Voice:
🇬🇧 UK Voice:
Definition
C1Veterinary Medicine
(technical, scientific)A fatal neurological disease in cattle caused by a misfolded protein called a prion, leading to abnormal behavior, coordination issues, and death.
Example
- Mad cow disease is caused by prions that affect the brain and spinal cord of cattle.
- Veterinarians are working to prevent the spread of mad cow disease through better feeding practices.
B2Informal
(colloquial)A cow exhibiting unusual or aggressive behavior, though not necessarily due to BSE.
Example
- That mad cow is charging at the fence!
- People often misuse the term mad cow to describe any erratic behavior in cattle.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "mad cow":