Skip to main content
family Bovidae

family Bovidae

1 5.3
A large group of animals with hooves like cows and goats
  • noun
  • /ˈfæmɪli ˈboʊvɪdeɪ/
  • Specialized
: familia Bovidae
  • Cattle, sheep, and goats are all members of the family Bovidae.

Examples

  • Unlike deer, species in the family Bovidae do not shed their horns annually.

  • The family Bovidae is one of the most diverse families of large mammals.

  • The family Bovidae includes various species of hoofed mammals.

  • Did you know that the family Bovidae consists of cattle and sheep?

  • Cattle, sheep, and goats are all members of the family Bovidae.

  • The family Bovidae is one of the most diverse families of large mammals.

  • The family Bovidae includes various species of hoofed mammals.

Synonyms

Bovidae
vsfamily Bovidae
  • Specialized
1 9.6

A family of animals with hooves that includes cattle, sheep, goats, and antelopes

uses a descriptive phrase to name the same taxonomic group

Surface Forms

Morphology

family + Bovidae

The phrase is a straightforward taxonomic label composed of 'family' (a scientific grouping) and 'Bovidae' (the bovine family), so the meaning is directly derived from the constituents. A B1 learner who knows both words can infer it refers to the family of Bovidae (hoofed mammals); taxonomic naming follows similar patterns cross-linguistically, reinforcing transparency.

Etymology

Family Bovidae comes from Latin parts bov- (from the Latin word 'bos', meaning 'cow' or 'ox') and -idae (an ending scientists use for animal families), so it literally means the 'cow family' and is used for animals like cattle, sheep, goats and antelopes.