Return to the home page.

Expand/collapse menu.

Visit Our Sites

Unabridged Dictionary

Learner's Dictionary

Word Central for Kids

Collegiate Dictionary

Expand/collapse menu.

Premium Services

Unabridged Dictionary

Collegiate Dictionary

Encyclopedia Britannica

Institutional Subscriptions

Expand/collapse menu.

Expand/collapse menu.

Word of the Day

Subscriber Help

Expand/collapse menu.

More Word Games

Daily Crosswords

Expand/collapse menu.

Open Dictionary

Alphabetical Browse

Browse Categories

Submit an Entry

Expand/collapse menu.

Spelling Bee Hive

Hive Headquarters

Spelling Champion

Spelling Reform

Expand/collapse menu.

Word for the Wise

Today's Broadcast

Expand/collapse menu.

Books and CD-Roms

Online Services

Palm and Pocket PC

Expand/collapse menu.

Looking Up a Word

Citing the Dictionary

Audio Pronunciations

Word Games Help

Expand/collapse menu.

Merriam-Webster FAQ

Advertising Info

Copyright Notice

Also Visit:
Unabridged

Visual
ESL:
Learner's
for Kids:
Spell It!
Word Central

calf

Browse the Dictionary:: A; B; C; D; E; F; G; H; I; J; K; L; M; N; O; P; Q; R; S; T; U; V; W; X; Y; Z; #

calf

Main Entry:: ¹calf
Pronunciation:: \ˈkaf, ˈkäf, dialect also ˈkāf\
Function:: noun
Inflected Form(s):: plural calves \ˈkavz, ˈkȧvz, ˈkāvz\ also calfs
Usage:: often attributive
Etymology:: Middle English, from Old English cealf; akin to Old High German kalb calf
Date:: before 12th century

1 a: the young of the domestic cow ; also : that of a closely related mammal (as a bison) b: the young of various large animals (as the elephant or whale)2plural calfs : the hide of the domestic calf ; especially : calfskin3: an awkward or silly youth

— calf·like

Listen to the pronunciation of calflike

\ˈkaf-ˌlīk, ˈkäf-, dialect also ˈkāf-\ adjective

— in calf

: pregnant —used of a cow

Learn more about "calf" and related topics at Britannica.com

See a map of "calf" in the Visual Thesaurus

Find Jobs in Your City

Pronunciation Symbols