calve

verb

ˈkav 

ˈkäv

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

Examples of calve in a Sentence

The cow calved in the barn.

Recent Examples on the Web

After the snow melts, cattle and wolves overlap on national forest lands and during calving season. —Hayleigh Evans, The Arizona Republic, 29 July 2024

Most of her livestock were still in southern Arizona for calving season, out of reach from the wolves during their most vulnerable time. —Hayleigh Evans, The Arizona Republic, 29 July 2024

In her later years, Morris recalls, Walnut would spend most of her time away from the herd, usually with Vanity, another female (called a hind) of the same age who had never calved. —Tim Vernimmen, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 July 2024

The Itinerary: The Baja California: Among the Great Whales cruise boards at San Carlos on Baja’s Pacific Coast for two days in Bahía Magdalena, one of the main breeding and calving sites for gray whales, where cruisers can kayak, paddleboard, or take a Zodiac to explore. —Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 10 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English calven, going back to Old English (Anglian) *calfian, (West Saxon) cealfian, derivative of cælf, cealf calf entry 1

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Kids Definition

calve

verb

ˈkav 

ˈkȧv

calved; calving

1

: to give birth to a calf

2

of an ice mass : to break so that a large part becomes separated

a glacier calving icebergs