Calve
Definition, Meaning & Examples
Pronunciation /kɑːv/ · Part of speech verb
Quick meaning: Calve is a verb meaning (intransitive) To give birth to a calf.
Meaning
(intransitive) To give birth to a calf.
More Meanings
- (intransitive) To assist in a cow’s giving birth to a calf.
- (transitive) To give birth to (a calf).
- (intransitive, figuratively, especially of an ice shelf, a glacier, an ice sheet, or iceberg) To shed a large piece.
- (intransitive, figuratively, especially of an iceberg) To break off.
- (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 calved Bessie for almost two hours.
The farmer could tell Bessie was about to calve.
The glacier was starting to calve even as we watched.
The glacier was starting to calve an iceberg even as we watched.
Word Forms
- calves
- calving
- calved
Synonyms for calve
Depending on context, synonyms include break up.
Related Words
Related dictionary entries include break up, low, veal, fresh, deacon, kick off.
Related Dictionary Tools
Sources & Attribution
FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0
Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.