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3 N‑COUNT [oft N n] Some female animals, including elephants and whales, are called cows . □  …a cow elephant.

4 N‑COUNT If someone describes a woman as a cow , they dislike her and think that she is unpleasant or stupid. [INFORMAL , OFFENSIVE , DISAPPROVAL ]

5 VERB If someone is cowed , they are made afraid, or made to behave in a particular way because they have been frightened or badly treated. [FORMAL ] □ [be V -ed] The government, far from being cowed by these threats, has vowed to continue its policy. □ [V n + into ] …cowing them into submission. ●  cowed ADJ □ [+ by ] By this time she was so cowed by the beatings that she meekly obeyed.

6 → see also mad cow disease , sacred cow

cow|ard /kaʊ ə ^r d/ (cowards ) N‑COUNT If you call someone a coward , you disapprove of them because they are easily frightened and avoid dangerous or difficult situations. [DISAPPROVAL ] □  She accused her husband of being a coward.

cow|ard|ice /kaʊ ə ^r d I s/ N‑UNCOUNT Cowardice is cowardly behaviour. □  He openly accused his opponents of cowardice.

cow|ard|ly /kaʊ ə ^r dli/ ADJ If you describe someone as cowardly , you disapprove of them because they are easily frightened and avoid doing dangerous and difficult things. [DISAPPROVAL ] □  I was too cowardly to complain. □  …a cowardly act of violence.

cow|bell /kaʊ bel/ (cowbells ) N‑COUNT A cowbell is a small bell that is hung around a cow's neck so that the ringing sound makes it possible to find the cow.

cow|boy /kaʊ bɔ I / (cowboys )

1 N‑COUNT A cowboy is a male character in a western. □  …cowboy films.

2 N‑COUNT A cowboy is a man employed to look after cattle in North America, especially in former times.

3 N‑COUNT [oft N n] You can refer to someone who runs a business as a cowboy if they run it dishonestly or are not experienced, skilful, or careful in their work. [BRIT , DISAPPROVAL ] □  We don't want to look like a bunch of cowboys.

cow|er /kaʊ ə ^r / (cowers , cowering , cowered ) VERB If you cower , you bend forward and downwards because you are very frightened. □ [V ] The hostages cowered in their seats.

cow|hide /kaʊ ha I d/ N‑UNCOUNT [oft N n] Cowhide is leather made from the skin of a cow. □  …cowhide boots.

cowl /kaʊ l/ (cowls ) N‑COUNT A cowl is a large loose hood covering a person's head, or their head and shoulders. Cowls are worn especially by monks.

co -wo rker (co-workers ) N‑COUNT Your co-workers are the people you work with, especially people on the same job or project as you.

cow|pat /kaʊ pæt/ (cowpats ) also cow pat N‑COUNT A cowpat is a pile of faeces from a cow.

cow|shed /kaʊ ʃed/ (cowsheds ) N‑COUNT A cowshed is a building where cows are kept or milked.

cow|slip /kaʊ sl I p/ (cowslips ) N‑COUNT A cowslip is a small wild plant with yellow, sweet-smelling flowers.

cox /kɒ ks/ (coxes ) N‑COUNT In a rowing boat, the cox is the person who gives instructions to the rowers.

cox|swain /kɒ ks ^ə n/ (coxswains ) N‑COUNT The coxswain of a lifeboat or other small boat is the person who steers the boat.

coy /kɔ I /

1 ADJ A coy person is shy, or pretends to be shy, about love and sex. □  She is modest without being coy. ●  coy|ly ADV [ADV with v] □  She smiled coyly at Algie as he took her hand and raised it to his lips.

2 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If someone is being coy , they are unwilling to talk about something that they feel guilty or embarrassed about. □ [+ about ] Mr Alexander is not the slightest bit coy about his ambitions. ●  coy|ly ADV [ADV with v] □  The administration coyly refused to put a firm figure on the war's costs.

coy|ote /ka I oʊ ti/ (coyotes ) N‑COUNT A coyote is a small wolf which lives in the plains of North America.

coy|pu /kɔ I puː/ (coypus ) N‑COUNT A coypu is a large South American rodent which lives near water.

cozy /koʊ zi/ → see cosy

Cpl. N‑TITLE Cpl. is the written abbreviation for corporal when it is used as a title. □  …Cpl. G. Walker.