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

Two thousand feet above, an ice block the size of a suburban house calved off the cliff and careened down, breaking apart and spewing destruction in every direc- tion. —Maya Silver, Outside Online, 20 Apr. 2025

During calving season, the whales migrate south to give birth in the warmer waters off the Carolinas, Georgia and Florida, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. —Olivia Lloyd, Miami Herald, 24 Mar. 2025

For years, researchers have been hoping Curlew and Koala will calve, but neither 14-year-old Curlew nor 16-year-old Koala have ever calved, according to the New England Aquarium’s North Atlantic right whale catalog. —Olivia Lloyd, Miami Herald, 24 Mar. 2025

The next day is spent in Glacier Bay, an International World Heritage Site since 1992, where guests are likely to see electric blue glaciers calving. —Bailey Berg, AFAR Media, 18 Feb. 2025

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

Rhymes for calve

• halve
• have
• nav
• mohave

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