buffalo
buffalo — noun
1. a very large cow-like animal from Africa or Asia, with thick curved horns
a very large cow-like animal from Africa or Asia, with thick curved horns
At dawn, Ravi led two buffalo into the wet rice field.
lead buffalo into a field
Near the river, a black buffalo lifted its horns at the dogs.
buffalo with curved horns
The farmer washed the buffalo before the children climbed onto the cart.
In the zoo, the buffalo snorted by the fence and visitors stopped.
A buffalo herd crossed the road and delayed our bus for ten minutes.
- water buffalo
the Asian type often kept for farm work; narrower than buffalo
- African buffalo
the wild African type; a more exact name than buffalo by itself
文法句型
a buffalo
buffalo + plural verb
a herd of buffalo
用法筆記
Usually names the African or Asian animal itself. Distinguish from sense 2, which is the North American bison often called buffalo in everyday English.
常見錯誤
2. a bison from North America, especially one living on open grassland
a bison from North America, especially one living on open grassland
Old photos show buffalo covering the plains behind the camp.
buffalo on the plains
At the park, a buffalo stood still while snow fell on its back.
At the museum, the guide showed us a buffalo skull from the Great Plains.
By sunset, three buffalo moved slowly across the grass near our jeep.
In Yellowstone, we watched a buffalo roll in dust beside the trail.
- bison
the standard exact name for this animal
- American bison
the full name used in careful or scientific contexts
- plains bison
a more specific term for the grassland type
文法句型
a buffalo
buffalo on the plains
a herd of buffalo
用法筆記
Common for the animal more exactly called bison, especially in North American contexts. Distinguish from sense 1, which refers to the true buffalo of Africa and Asia.
常見錯誤
buffalo — verb
1. to confuse someone so much that they do not know what to say or do
to confuse someone so much that they do not know what to say or do
The math puzzle buffaloed Nika for half an hour.
buffalo + person as object
The guard's sudden question buffaloed the tired driver at midnight.
Even the simple map buffaloed Omar after the lights went out.
During the interview, one trick question buffaloed Priya for a moment.
The strange message completely buffaloed our class until the teacher smiled.
文法句型
buffalo + somebody
buffalo + a group
buffalo somebody with + something
用法筆記
Object is usually a person or group, and the subject is often a question, problem, or surprising event. It is much rarer than everyday verbs like confuse or puzzle.