Definition

Noun: 1. A large, extinct, long-horned wild ox of Europe: The urus (scientific name: Bos primigenius) was a species of large wild cattle that lived in Europe, Asia, and North Africa. It is considered a direct ancestor of modern domestic cattle. The species became extinct in the 17th century.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The urus was a formidable animal that once roamed the forests of Europe.
  • Cave paintings often depict the urus, showing its significance to prehistoric humans.
  • Scientists study the urus to understand the evolution of domestic cattle.

Advanced Usage

• The term urus is primarily used in historical, archaeological, and zoological contexts. It is synonymous with the aurochs, which is the more common name for this species in scientific literature.
• "The last urus": A phrase used to refer to the final known individual of the species, which died in Poland in 1627.

Variants and Related Words

• Aurochs (n): The more frequently used synonym for , especially in scientific contexts.
• Bos primigenius (n): The Latin binomial (scientific) name for the species.

Synonyms

• Aurochs
• Wild ox (historical context)
• (scientific)

Notes on Meaning

• The urus/aurochs is distinct from the European bison (wisent). While both are large, wild bovine animals, they are different species.
• It is considered the wild progenitor of modern taurine cattle ().

Noun

1. large recently extinct long-horned European wild ox; considered one of the ancestors of domestic cattle