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ovine

ovine

7.9
Like or about sheep
  • adjective
  • /ˈoʊvaɪn/
  • Specialized
translation icon : ovin
  • His performance was respectable enough for Ariella to go on to 4-H sheep camp for a whole week of ovine education.

Examples

  • The museum displayed historical tools used for ovine farming in ancient cultures.

  • In addition, clinical outcomes could be worse when caused by mixed chlamydial infections rather than monoinfection, as was suggested in a study of ovine abortion (33).

    Academic text (2013)
  • Later, more flock members tested positive for the disease—also known as ovine transmissible spongiform encephalopathy—and, by law, had to be destroyed.

    Academic text (2002)
  • The farmer raised ovine animals to provide wool and meat for his family.

  • She studied the ovine characteristics of the breed to improve her sheep's health.

How Sheeplike

sheepy
1 7.9
sheeplike
1 6.8
ovine
  • Specialized
7.9

Surface Forms

ovine positive

Morphology

ovine = sheep (semi-transparent) = ovin + ine

The meaning 'relating to sheep' is clear, but the adjective is formed from a Latin combining form rather than a productive English base, so learners may not transparently see the morphemes.

Etymology

The word ovine comes from the Latin ovis, which means 'sheep', so ovine means 'sheep-like' or 'relating to sheep'.