calve
verbUK, WA /kɑːv/ · US /kæv/
Etymology From Middle English calven, from Old English *calfian, cealfian, from Proto-West Germanic *kalbōn, from Proto-Germanic *kalbōną (“to calve”), from *kalbaz (“calf”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian koolvje, Dutch kalven, German Low German kalven, German kalben, Swedish kalva, Icelandic kálfa.
1
To give birth to a calf.
- The farmer could tell Bessie was about to calve.
2
To assist in a cow’s giving birth to a calf.
- The farmer calved Bessie for almost two hours.
3
To give birth to (a calf).
4
Especially, Figuratively, Of an ice shelf To shed a large piece.
A glacier; an ice sheet; a glacier; an ice sheet
- The glacier was starting to calve even as we watched.
5
Especially, Figuratively, Of an iceberg To break off.
- The sea was dangerous because of icebergs calving off the nearby glacier.
6
Especially, Figuratively, Of an ice shelf To shed (a large piece); to set loose (a mass of ice).
A glacier; an ice sheet; a glacier; an ice sheet
- The glacier was starting to calve an iceberg even as we watched.
- Derived terms
- calver, down-calver
- Related terms
- calf, calves