calve

[ kav, kahv ]

verb (used without object)

, calved, calv·ing.

1. to give birth to a calf:

   The cow is expected to calve tomorrow.

2. (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.

1. to give birth to (a calf ).
2. (of a glacier, an iceberg, etc.) to break off or detach (a piece):

   The glacier calved an iceberg.

calve

/ kɑːv /

verb

1. to give birth to (a calf)
2. (of a glacier or iceberg) to release (masses of ice) in breaking up

Word History and Origins

Origin of calve¹

before 1000; Middle English calven, Old English (Anglian) *calfian, derivative of calf calf ¹; cognate with Old English ( West Saxon ) cealfian

Example Sentences

We won’t be watching glaciers calve from a cruise ship or fighting for photo ops from a crowded tour bus in Denali.

From Outside Online

When perched on this mound, called a moraine, tidewater glaciers flow more slowly and calve fewer icebergs, which allows them to advance even in unfavorable climates.

From Outside Online

Seeing your first iceberg calve makes you realize how small you are and what your place on the planet actually is.

From Washington Post

Some come to see calving glaciers and climate change in action.

From Washington Post

Farmers do not kill their breeding ewes in March, nor butcher cows that are to calve in a month; it does not pay.

From Project Gutenberg

They will continue to give milk till eight months gone with calf, or till they calve again, if you continue to milk them.

From Project Gutenberg

In taking some calve's-foot jelly from the fire, she had inadvertently overturned the boiling liquid.

From Project Gutenberg

They have milk at all times, and may be milked all the year, excepting four or five days before they calve.

From Project Gutenberg

Fin whales calve and breed in winter, mostly in temperate waters.

From Project Gutenberg