calve

verb

ˈkav How to pronounce calve (audio)
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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 North Atlantic right whales typically return to northern feeding grounds around New England and Canada in winter and early spring after calving off the coast of the southeast U.S. each year. Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald, 18 Mar. 2025 Right whale calving season Sunday's sighting of a mother-calf pair off Ormond Beach brings the total number of calves born during this winter's calving season to 10 mother-calf pairs, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA TODAY, 27 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for calve

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of calve was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Calve.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/calve. Accessed 14 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

calve

verb
ˈkav How to pronounce calve (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on calve

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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