calf
kahf
Calf (noun) means a young cow, bull, or the young of certain other large animals such as elephants or whales. Example: “The calf stayed close to its mother in the field.”
noun
1
A young cow, bull, or the young of certain other large animals such as elephants or whales.
"The calf stayed close to its mother in the field."
"A newborn elephant calf can weigh over 200 pounds."
"The farmer found a newborn calf shivering in the straw this morning."
2
The muscular back part of the lower leg, below the knee.
"He pulled a muscle in his calf during the sprint."
"Running uphill really works your calves."
"She wore a long sock that stopped just below the knee, covering her calf."
3
A chunk of ice that breaks away from a glacier or ice shelf.
"A huge calf broke off the glacier and crashed into the sea."
"Tourists on the boat watched in silence as a calf slid off the glacier face."
"Scientists measure how often each calf breaks off the edge of the ice shelf."
How to use calf
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither a baby cow (or similar animal) or the back of your lower leg — two unrelated meanings sharing one word.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "calve" (the verb, meaning to give birth to a calf or to break off as ice).
Common pairings
calf muscle
a newborn calf
cow and calf
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Word forms
- Plural
- calves, calfs
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ stayed close to its mother in the field.
Etymology
From Old English cealf, from a Proto-Germanic root shared with German Kalb and Dutch kalf.
Related words
Rhymes for calf
See all rhymes for calf →Frequently asked questions
What does “calf” mean?
The word “calf” means a young cow, bull, or the young of certain other large animals such as elephants or whales. In plain terms, either a baby cow (or similar animal) or the back of your lower leg — two unrelated meanings sharing one word.
How do you pronounce “calf”?
“Calf” is pronounced kahf (/kæf/ in IPA).
How do you use “calf” in a sentence?
Here is “calf” used in a sentence: “The calf stayed close to its mother in the field.”
What is another word for “calf”?
Words with a similar meaning to “calf” include bullet, cowlet, cowling and moggy.
What part of speech is “calf”?
“Calf” is a noun.
Where does the word “calf” come from?
The word “calf” comes from Old English. From Old English cealf, from a Proto-Germanic root shared with German Kalb and Dutch kalf.
Is “calf” a common word?
“Calf” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “calf” have?
“Calf” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a young cow, bull, or the young of certain other large animals such as elephants or whales.
What is the difference between a calf and a heifer?
A calf is a young cow, bull, or the young of certain other large animals such as elephants or whales, regardless of sex. A heifer specifically refers to a young female cow that has not yet had a calf of her own, so the terms describe different life stages.
Why is the back of the lower leg called the calf?
The calf refers to the muscular back part of the lower leg, below the knee. This anatomical sense of the word is unrelated in meaning to the young-animal sense, though they share the same spelling.
What does it mean when a glacier calves?
When a glacier calves, a chunk of ice breaks away from the glacier or ice shelf; that broken piece is itself called a calf. This usage extends the idea of something separating from a larger body.
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