Meaning & use
white shorthorn
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Meaning
nouncountabletechnical
A breed of beef cattle with a white or light-colored coat, originally developed in northeastern England.
Grammar: Countable: one white shorthorn, two white shorthorns. It can also be used before another noun, as in 'white shorthorn bull'.
Patterns
- a white shorthorn
- white shorthorns
- white shorthorn cattle
The farmer showed us a white shorthorn that had won several prizes at the county fair.
White shorthorns are known for their calm temperament and good milk production.
They crossed a white shorthorn with another breed to improve the herd.
Word forms
| plural | white shorthorns |
|---|
Common combinations
- white shorthorn bull
- The white shorthorn bull was the largest animal in the field.
- white shorthorn cow
- A white shorthorn cow stood by the gate, chewing grass.
- white shorthorn herd
- The white shorthorn herd grazed on the hillside.
- breed white shorthorns
- They have been breeding white shorthorns for three generations.
Synonyms and how they differ
- Shorthorn
- This is the general breed name and can refer to cattle of various colors, not just white ones.
Commonly confused: white shorthorn or white-faced?
white shorthorn vs white-faced
This describes an animal with a white face, not a specific breed like the white shorthorn.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'white shorthorn' correctly?
Choose one answer.
A white shorthorn is a breed of cattle, so it makes sense to see one grazing in a field. The other options confuse it with a chicken, clothing, or a flower.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “white shorthorn”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.