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

As the whales migrate each year from calving grounds near Florida to foraging grounds near New England, they are often struck by passing boats or entangled in fishing gear, which can hurt or kill them. —Nate Iglehart, Christian Science Monitor, 21 May 2025

In a small theater, the three-channel video installation shows slow-moving rivers of fiery lava, surging oceans and calving glaciers alongside close-ups of people staring at the camera, hugging and moving gracefully. —Alina Tugend, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2025

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

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