calf

[ kaf, kahf ]

/ kæf, kɑf /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: calf / calves on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural calves

[kavz, kahvz]. /kævz, kɑvz/.

the young of the domestic cow or other bovine animal.

the young of certain other mammals, as elephants, seals, and whales.

calfskin (def. 2).

Informal. an awkward, silly boy or man.

a mass of ice detached from a glacier, iceberg, or floe.

QUIZ

QUIZ YOURSELF ON OPPOSITES OF RED BEFORE YOU TURN SCARLET

We have a challenge that will make you blush: do you know the many words and ways to describe the opposite of red?

Question 1 of 7

Which of the following colors is used to symbolize AIR?

white

green

red

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about calf

in calf, (of a cow or other animal having calves) pregnant.

kill the fatted calf, to prepare an elaborate feast in welcome or celebration.

Origin of calf

First recordedbefore 900; Middle English, Old English cealf, calf; cognate with Old Saxon kalf, Old Norse kalfr, Old High German kalb, from Germanic kalboz

OTHER WORDS FROM calf

calfless, adjectivecalflike, adjective

Words nearby calf

calendula, calenture, calesa, calescent, Calexico, calf, calf bone, calf diphtheria, calf love, calf roping, calf's-foot jelly

Other definitions for calf (2 of 2)

calf²

[ 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

1275–1325; Middle English <Old Norse kalfi; akin to calf¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use calf in a sentence

Ulises Segura’s season ended in mid-September with a calf ailment.
D.C. United’s first offseason priority: Hiring a coach|Steven Goff|November 9, 2020|Washington Post
Only camel calves around four to eight months old could give the virus to people, he found.
When physicians and veterinarians team up, all species benefit|Liz Devitt|November 5, 2020|Science News For Students
Females need a lot in the “bank” because their calves need a lot of energy.
The secret to helping this resilient whale species lies in its genes|By Emma Carroll/The Conversation|November 2, 2020|Popular-Science
They noted that the disease would roll through communities every few years, causing pregnant heifers and cows to lose their calves.
The idea of herd immunity to manage the coronavirus should ring alarm bells|Rebecca Kaplan|October 30, 2020|Washington Post

A somewhat worrying detail, in that respect, is that they tested muscle composition in the two muscles of the calf, the soleus and gastrocnemius, but only found a significant relationship between fiber type and training outcome for the gastrocnemius.
How Your Muscle Fibers Might Predict Overtraining|Alex Hutchinson|October 17, 2020|Outside Online
The dimmed lights and sizeable golden calf on the center of the conference table should tip you off.
‘Persecuted’ Is the Christian Right’s Paranoid Wet Dream|Candida Moss|July 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Independence may well be the modern day Golden Calf to which far too many of us bow down and worship.
When Did ‘Dependence’ Become a Dirty Word?|Gene Robinson|April 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“Good, number 15 – she and her calf are still in the same place,” he said.
Borana Joins the Fight to Save Kenya’s Rhinos…and Wants You to Help Too|Joanna Eede|February 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
At her side was her calf, which turned and squinted at us through baby eyes.
Borana Joins the Fight to Save Kenya’s Rhinos…and Wants You to Help Too|Joanna Eede|February 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The modest calf-length skirts and dresses could be tailor made for Kate Middleton.
Emilia Wickstead and Manolo Blahnik: #LFW Day 3|Tom Sykes|September 15, 2013|DAILY BEAST
A small book, bound in full purple calf, lay half hidden in a nest of fine tissue paper on the dressing-table.
Hilda Lessways|Arnold Bennett
The calf and the bear shall feed: their young ones shall rest together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version|Various
When he assails a calf, the cow will rush upon him, and one toss from her horns is sufficient to kill him.
Hunting the Lions|R.M. Ballantyne
New milker with a calf still beside her—purty as a picture, the pair of 'em, and dirt cheap.
Dorothy at Skyrie|Evelyn Raymond
Looks like good stock, that calf does; 's if 't might make a nice steer, but 'twon't never be a cow to give milk.
Dorothy at Skyrie|Evelyn Raymond

British Dictionary definitions for calf (1 of 2)

calf¹

/ (kɑːf) /

noun plural calves

the young of cattle, esp domestic cattleRelated 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 calf (2 of 2)

calf²

/ (kɑːf) /

noun plural calves

the thick fleshy part of the back of the leg between the ankle and the kneeRelated adjective: sural

Word Origin for calf

C14: from Old Norse kalfi

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medical definitions for calf

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.

Other Idioms and Phrases with calf

calf

see kill the fatted calf; puppy (calf) love.

calf

Idioms about calf

Origin of calf

OTHER WORDS FROM calf

Words nearby calf

Other definitions for calf (2 of 2)

Origin of calf

Words related to calf

How to use calf in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for calf (1 of 2)

Word Origin for calf

British Dictionary definitions for calf (2 of 2)

Word Origin for calf

Medical definitions for calf

Other Idioms and Phrases with calf