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Glite Dictionary
cow pen

cow pen

1 1.6
A fenced area where farmers keep cows
  • noun
  • /kaʊ pɛn/
translation icon : corral de vacas
  • The farmer built a new cow pen to keep the young calves safe from predators.

Examples

  • Many farmers build a cow pen for their livestock.

  • Children watched as the calves played together in the cow pen.

  • The farmer led the cattle back into the cow pen after grazing.

  • The old cow pen behind the barn needed repair before winter arrived.

  • The cow pen was filled with fresh hay.

  • Each morning, she feeds the cattle in the cow pen behind the barn.

  • During the storm, the cows took shelter in the cow pen to stay dry.

Synonyms

pen
vscow pen
63 3.5

A small area for keeping animals like pigs or chickens

is similar but limited to a single farm animal type rather than many
corral
vscow pen
  • US
30 5.3

An enclosure for keeping farm animals like cattle or horses

is a fenced area limited to one specific farm animal type
paddock
vscow pen
8 3.4

A small enclosed field where animals such as horses graze or exercise

focuses on simple containment for a particular farm animal rather than grazing use
feedlot
vscow pen
  • Specialized
7 6.3

A place where farmers keep cattle or pigs to fatten before sale

is a basic fenced area for keeping one farm animal without commercial feeding purpose
stockyard
vscow pen
  • US
6 6.3

A fenced area where people keep animals like cows and sheep before transport or slaughter

is a smaller fenced area used to keep one particular farm animal
holding pen
vscow pen
2 3.1

A small fenced area where farmers keep animals before moving them

is the regular fenced space for keeping one particular farm animal
cattle pen
vscow pen
1 2.1

An enclosure for keeping cattle like cows and bulls

is the general fenced area used for one specific farm animal type
holding yard
vscow pen
1 5.1

A fenced area where animals like sheep wait briefly before someone moves them

is a permanent fenced area meant for keeping one farm animal species
drylot
vscow pen
  • Jargon
8.2

An outdoor area where farmers keep and feed animals when they cannot graze

is the ordinary fenced area primarily for keeping a single farm animal
catch pen
vscow pen
  • Specialized
6.3

A small fenced area that holds animals like sheep or cattle for a short time

is mainly a steady fenced area for housing one farm animal type
holding paddock
vscow pen
  • UK
5.8

An enclosed area where farmers keep animals for a short time before moving them

is a stable fenced area used to keep a single farm animal kind

How Big

pasture
102 1.4
cow pen
1 1.6
corral
  • US
30 5.3
paddock
8 3.4

Surface Forms

cow pen singular
cow pens plural

Morphology

cow + pen

The meaning 'an enclosure for keeping cattle' is directly and compositionally derived from 'cow' (cattle) + 'pen' (an enclosure for livestock); a learner who knows both words will readily infer the combined meaning. This noun-noun compound follows a common, cross-linguistic pattern for naming animal enclosures, so it is immediately understandable to B1 learners.

Etymology

Cow pen comes from a very simple picture: a cow kept in a pen, a small fenced place where farmers keep animals. So it means 'an enclosure for keeping cattle'.