calves
1
[ kavz, kahvz ]
/ kævz, kɑvz /
noun
plural of calf1.
Words nearby calves
calvarium,
calvary,
calvary cross,
calve,
calvert,
calves,
calvin,
calvin cycle,
calvin, john,
calvinism,
calvino
Definition for calves (2 of 5)
Definition for calves (3 of 5)
calf
1
[ kaf, kahf ]
/ kæf, kɑf /
noun, plural calves [kavz, kahvz] /kævz, kɑvz/.
the young of the domestic cow or other bovine animal.
the young of certain other mammals, as the elephant, seal, and whale.
calfskin leather.
Informal.
an awkward, silly boy or man.
a mass of ice detached from a glacier, iceberg, or floe.
Origin of calf
1
before 900; Middle English; Old English
cealf, calf; cognate with Old Saxon
kalf, Old Norse
kalfr, Old High German
kalb
OTHER WORDS FROM calf
calf·less, adjective calf·like, adjectiveDefinition for calves (4 of 5)
calve
[ kav, kahv ]
/ kæv, kɑv /
verb (used without object), calved, calv·ing.
to give birth to a calf: The cow is expected to calve tomorrow.
(of a glacier, an iceberg, etc.) to break up or splinter so as to produce a detached piece.
verb (used with object), calved, calv·ing.
to give birth to (a calf).
(of a glacier, an iceberg, etc.) to break off or detach (a piece): The glacier calved an iceberg.
Origin of calve
before 1000; Middle English
calven, Old English (Anglian)
*calfian, derivative of
calf
calf1; cognate with Old English (West Saxon)
cealfian
Definition for calves (5 of 5)
calf
2
[ kaf, kahf ]
/ kæf, kɑf /
noun, plural calves [kavz, kahvz] /kævz, kɑvz/.
the fleshy part of the back of the human leg below the knee.
Origin of calf
2
1275–1325; Middle English < Old Norse
kalfi; akin to
calf1
Example sentences from the Web for calves
British Dictionary definitions for calves (1 of 4)
British Dictionary definitions for calves (2 of 4)
calve
/ (kɑːv) /
verb
to give birth to (a calf)
(of a glacier or iceberg) to release (masses of ice) in breaking up
British Dictionary definitions for calves (3 of 4)
calf
1
/ (kɑːf) /
noun plural calves
the young of cattle, esp domestic cattle
Related adjective: vituline
the young of certain other mammals, such as the buffalo, elephant, giraffe, and whale
a large piece of floating ice detached from an iceberg, etc
kill the fatted calf
to celebrate lavishly, esp as a welcome
another name for calfskin
Word Origin for calf
Old English
cealf; related to Old Norse
kālfr, Gothic
kalbō, Old High German
kalba
British Dictionary definitions for calves (4 of 4)
calf
2
/ (kɑːf) /
noun plural calves
the thick fleshy part of the back of the leg between the ankle and the knee
Related adjective: sural
Word Origin for calf
C14: from Old Norse
kalfi
Medical definitions for calves
calf
[ kăf ]
n. pl. calves (kăvz)
The fleshy, muscular back part of the human leg between the knee and ankle, formed chiefly by the bellies of the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles.
Idioms and Phrases with calves
calf
see kill the fatted calf; puppy (calf) love.