n.; pl. Oxen [ AS. oxa; akin to D. os. G. ochs, ochse, OHG. ohso, Icel. oxi, Sw. & Dan. oxe, Goth. aúhsa, Skr. ukshan ox, bull; cf. Skr. uksh to sprinkle. √214. Cf. Humid, Aurochs. ] (Zool.) The male of bovine quadrupeds, especially the domestic animal when castrated and grown to its full size, or nearly so. The word is also applied, as a general name, to any species of bovine animals, male and female. [ 1913 Webster ]

All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field. Ps. viii. 7. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The castrated male is called a steer until it attains its full growth, and then, an ox; but if castrated somewhat late in life, it is called a stag. The male, not castrated, is called a bull. These distinctions are well established in regard to domestic animals of this genus. When wild animals of this kind are spoken of, ox is often applied both to the male and the female. The name ox is never applied to the individual cow, or female, of the domestic kind. Oxen may comprehend both the male and the female. [ 1913 Webster ]

Grunting ox (Zool.), the yak. --
Indian ox (Zool.), the zebu. --
Javan ox (Zool.), the banteng. --
Musk ox. (Zool.) See under Musk. --
Ox bile. See Ox gall, below. --
Ox gall, the fresh gall of the domestic ox; -- used in the arts and in medicine. --
Ox pith, ox marrow. [ Obs. ] Marston. --
Ox ray (Zool.), a very large ray (Dicerobatis Giornae) of Southern Europe. It has a hornlike organ projecting forward from each pectoral fin. It sometimes becomes twenty feet long and twenty-eight feet broad, and weighs over a ton. Called also sea devil. --
To have the black ox tread on one's foot, to be unfortunate; to know what sorrow is (because black oxen were sacrificed to Pluto). Leigh Hunt. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Chem.) See Oxyacid. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Chem.) a salt or ester of oxalacetic acid.
Syn. -- oxaloacetate. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. (Chem.) A dicarboxylic acid (HO.CO.CO.CH2.CO.OH). [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ From Alloxan, by transposition of letters. ] (Chem.) A complex nitrogenous substance C3N3H5O3 obtained from alloxan (or when urea is fused with ethyl oxamate), as a stable white crystalline powder; -- called also oxaluramide. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ From Alloxantin, by transposition of letters. ] (Chem.) A white crystalline nitrogenous substance (C6H4N4O5) obtained by the reduction of parabanic acid; -- called also leucoturic acid. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. oxalate. See Oxalic. ] (Chem.) A salt of oxalic acid. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Oxalic + aldehyde. ] (Chem.) Same as Glyoxal. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Oxalic + ethyl + -ine. ] A poisonous nitrogenous base (C6H10N2) obtained indirectly from oxamide as a thick transparent oil which has a strong narcotic odor, and a physiological action resembling that of atropine. It is probably related to pyridine. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ From Oxalis: cf. F. oxalique. ] (Chem.) Pertaining to, derived from, or contained in, sorrel, or oxalis; specifically, designating an acid found in, and characteristic of, oxalis, and also certain plant of the Buckwheat family. [ 1913 Webster ]

Oxalic acid (Chem.), a dibasic acid (HO.CO.CO.OH), existing combined in oxalis as an acid potassium oxalate, and in many plant tissues as the calcium oxalate. It is prepared on a large scale, by the action of fused caustic soda or potash on sawdust, as a white crystalline substance, which has a strong acid taste, and is poisonous in large doses. It is used in dyeing, calico printing, bleaching flax and straw, the preparation of formic acid, and in salts of lemon for removing ink stains, mold, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]