Meaning

(intransitive) To give birth to a calf..

Definitions by Sense

1. (intransitive) To give birth to a calf.
2. (intransitive) To assist in a cow’s giving birth to a calf.
3. (transitive) To give birth to (a calf).
4. (intransitive, figuratively, especially of an ice shelf, a glacier, an ice sheet, or iceberg) To shed a large piece.
5. (intransitive, figuratively, especially of an iceberg) To break off.
6. (transitive, figuratively, especially of an ice shelf, a glacier, an ice sheet, or iceberg) To shed (a large piece); to set loose (a mass of ice).

Example Sentences

The farmer could tell Bessie was about to calve.

The farmer calved Bessie for almost two hours.

The glacier was starting to calve even as we watched.

The sea was dangerous because of icebergs calving off the nearby glacier.

The glacier was starting to calve an iceberg even as we watched.

Word Forms

• calves
• calving
• calved

Synonyms for calve

Related Words

When Should You Use Calve?

Use calve when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

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