rhizoverbBeta
DictionarygrazeEating little and often
verb

graze

GRAYZ/ɡreɪz/

To feed by repeatedly taking small mouthfuls from growing vegetation.

The cows graze on fresh grass near the fence.

A cow lowers its head and crops living grass, with the muzzle actually meeting the plants; feeding action clear.
Etymology
grazeOld Englishto feed on grass

Old English grasian was formed from græs, “grass”: the verb names feeding by the plants eaten. The modern meaning retains that direct connection to eating growing vegetation.

In context

Intermountain West Joint Venture1:39
change the way cows graze on a stream the plants come back the beavers show up
Creating Miracles in the Desert: Restoring Dixie Creek

More examples

  • Sheep graze along the grassy hillside.
  • The farmer grazes her cattle in a different pasture each week.
  • We watched deer grazing in the meadow.

Forms

graze · grazes · grazed · grazing

grazer noun — An animal that feeds on growing vegetation.

Similar words

browse
Usually means feeding on leaves and twigs rather than grass.
nibble
Emphasizes small bites without requiring feeding on growing vegetation.