Calcutta

American  

[kal-kuht-uh] / kælˈkʌt ə /

noun

1. former name of Kolkata (but sometimes still used).

2. Also called Calcutta pool.  (sometimes lowercase) a form of betting pool for a competition or tournament, as golf or auto racing, in which gamblers bid for participating contestants in an auction, the proceeds from which are put into a pool for distribution, according to a prearranged scale of percentages, to those who selected winners.

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Calcutta British  

/ kælˈkʌtə /

noun

1. the former official name (still widely used) of Kolkata

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Calcutta Cultural  

1. Largest city in India, located in the eastern part of the country on the Hooghly River.

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Calcutta is one of the largest cities in the world and suffers from poverty, overcrowding, and unemployment.

Example Sentences

There had been an expectation that England would be smarting after the Calcutta Cup defeat, and would put it right against Ireland.

From BBC • Feb. 27, 2026

Australia-born centre Tuipulotu believes it might have been someone else lifting the Calcutta Cup in Edinburgh had not Tandy brought him encouraged him to open up.

From Barron's • Feb. 20, 2026

A bigger crowd is expected for the third-round visit of a Scotland side fresh from an impressive 31-20 Calcutta Cup win over England at Murrayfield.

From Barron's • Feb. 20, 2026

"While Calcutta 4 provides crucial genetic resistance, it isn't suitable as a commercial cultivar because it doesn't produce fruit which are good to eat," he said.

From Science Daily • Feb. 19, 2026

Ma is draped in one of the white widow's saris our grandmother sent from Calcutta.

From "You Bring the Distant Near" by Mitali Perkins