ox
gb/ˈɑks/ us/ˈɑks/
B1
English
ökör, igásökör, melák, Bivaly
NOUN
B1
1
Usage pattern:
an ox; a team/pair of oxen
The farmer hitched two oxen to the plow before sunrise.
A gazda még napkelte előtt két ökröt fogott az eke elé.
The cart was pulled slowly up the hill by a patient ox.
A szekeret egy türelmes ökör húzta fel lassan a dombra.
In the museum, you can see a wooden yoke used for oxen.
Learner examples
The ox pulls the cart.
Az ökör húzza a szekeret.
Two oxen work together.
Két ökör együtt dolgozik.
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse an ox with a bull (uncastrated male) or a cow (female), and may use the regular plural *oxes* instead of *oxen*.
Meaning
large cattle used for pulling
Collocations
a team of oxen
|an ox cart
|an ox yoke
|a pair of oxen
|to yoke oxen
|a working ox
|a plow ox
|ox-drawn cart
|to drive oxen
|an ox team
Synonyms
bullock (Often means a young bull or castrated male; used in some varieties of English.)
|
steer (A castrated male bovine, especially raised for beef; not always a working animal.)
Themes
animals
|farming
|transport
|nature
Definition
A large farm animal used to pull heavy things.
A large, adult bovine—especially a castrated male—trained to pull heavy loads such as plows, carts, or wagons; plural is often oxen.
NOUN
B2
INFORMAL
2
Usage pattern:
(informal) [someone] is an ox
Stop barging through people like an ox.
Ne lökdösődj át az embereken úgy, mint egy ökör.
He’s built like an ox, but he trips over his own feet.
Akkora, mint egy ökör, de még a saját lábában is megbotlik.
She called him an ox for trying to lift it alone instead of asking for help.
Learner examples
Don’t call people an ox.
Ne nevezd ökörnek az embereket.
He is strong like an ox.
Erős, mint az ökör.
Common mistake:
This use is usually negative or teasing; it is not a neutral way to describe someone strong.
Meaning
very strong, slow person
Collocations
a big ox
|you ox
|like an ox
|a clumsy ox
|a stupid ox
Synonyms
brute (Emphasizes roughness or cruelty more than slowness.)
|
lunk (Informal; emphasizes clumsiness and stupidity.)
Antonyms
genius (Opposite in intelligence.)
|
weakling (Opposite in physical strength.)
Themes
people
|character
|insults
|daily_life
Definition
A very strong person who seems slow or stupid (rude).
An insulting or joking term for a person who is very strong but also slow, clumsy, or not very intelligent.
NOUN
B2
3
Usage pattern:
the Ox; Year of the Ox
My sister was born in the Year of the Ox.
A nővérem a Bivaly évében született.
In the Chinese zodiac, the Ox comes after the Rat.
A kínai állatövben a Bivaly a Patkány után következik.
They bought a red envelope printed with the Ox for Lunar New Year.
Learner examples
I was born in the Year of the Ox.
A Bivaly évében születtem.
Common mistake:
This meaning is usually capitalized (Ox), especially in phrases like *Year of the Ox*.
Meaning
second sign in Chinese zodiac
Collocations
Year of the Ox
|born in the Year of the Ox
|the Ox sign
|Chinese zodiac Ox
Themes
culture
|astrology
Definition
The Ox sign in the Chinese zodiac.
In the Chinese zodiac, the Ox is the second of the twelve animal signs, associated with people born in particular years.
Grammar
Dictionary form
ox
IPA
GB/ˈɑks/
US/ˈɑks/
Syllables & stress
ox (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (ox)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: ox
- Plural: oxes
Word family
Expressions
an ox is slow but the earth is patient
1/ən ˈɑks ˈɪz slˈoʊ bˈʌt ðə ˈɚθ ˈɪz pˈeɪʃənt/
fixed phrase
literary
patience brings results
If you keep working patiently, you will succeed.
Examples
- When the project felt endless, she reminded us, “An ox is slow but the earth is patient.”
- He repeated the saying—an ox is slow but the earth is patient—and went back to practicing.
- The coach’s message was clear: an ox is slow but the earth is patient.
as strong as an ox
1/ˈæz stɹˈɔŋ ˈæz ən ˈɑks/
idiom
extremely strong
Very, very strong.
Examples
- She’s as strong as an ox and can carry both suitcases at once.
- He looks skinny, but he’s as strong as an ox.
- After months of training, I felt as strong as an ox.
Learner examples
- He is as strong as an ox.