Definition of calve
calved
;calving
intransitive verb
1 : to give birth to a calf; also : to produce offspring
2 of an ice mass : to separate or break so that a part becomes detached
transitive verb
1 : to produce by birth
2 of an ice mass : to let become detached
Explore M-W
Examples of calve in a Sentence
The cow calved in the barn.
Recent Examples of calve from the Web
-
Antarctica's ice shelves do calve large pieces regularly, a natural process.
-
Other scientists say calving events like this, even of this scale, are normal for ice sheets.
-
Between April and May, gray whales begin to migrate from their calving waters in Mexico to the feeding waters near Alaska.
-
In this video, a pod of humpback whales can be seen migrating past South Africa to the warmer waters of Australia for breeding and calving.
-
From mid-July through November southern right whales calve and nurse their babies in warm Indian Ocean bays.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'calve.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of calve
Middle English, from Old English cealfian, from cealf calf
CALVE Defined for English Language Learners
calve
playDefinition of calve for English Language Learners
-
of a cow : to give birth to a calf
CALVE Defined for Kids
calve
playDefinition of calve for Students
calved
;calving
: to give birth to a calf The cow calved in the barn.
Learn More about calve
-
See words that rhyme with calve Spanish Central: Translation of calve Nglish: Translation of calve for Spanish speakers
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up calve? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!