plural calves
ˈkavz 
ˈkävz,
ˈkāvz
also calfs
often attributive
1
a
: the young of the domestic cow
also
: that of a closely related mammal (such as a bison)
b
: the young of various large animals (such as the elephant or whale)
2
3
: an awkward or silly youth
plural calves
ˈkavz
ˈkävz
: the fleshy back part of the leg below the knee
The cat rubbed against her calves.
Examples of calf in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 16 Apr. 2024
The Kings are listing Murray as questionable due to left calf soreness, adding another layer to their injury woes with Kevin Huerter out for the season with a torn labrum and Malik Monk out for at least four weeks with a right MCL sprain.
—Jason Anderson, Sacramento Bee, 9 Apr. 2024
Meet the Indianapolis Zoo's new baby rhino Before the 300-pound calf joins the exhibit this spring, the zoo is offering a meet and greet opportunity with her and her mom.
—The Indianapolis Star, 9 Apr. 2024
The whale’s carcass, which had been scavenged by sharks, was pulled to shore for a necropsy and identified as a mom from the 2024 calving season, having given birth to her sixth calf this past winter.
—Rebekah Riess, CNN, 5 Apr. 2024
On March 3, two months after fishermen spotted it offshore from Edisto, South Carolina, with its head, mouth, and lips cut open by a boat propeller, a calf was reported dead on Cumberland Island National Seashore in Georgia.
—John Deem, USA TODAY, 5 Apr. 2024
The whale's calf is not expected to survive without its mother and has not been seen in weeks, NOAA said.
—CBS News, 5 Apr. 2024
No stranger to injury, the Texas Tech product missed much of spring training with a strained left calf.
—Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Apr. 2024
The calf can then be released into the ocean once her pod travels nearby, John said Thursday at the news conference.
—Andrew Jeong, Washington Post, 6 Apr. 2024
Noun
Love and Hip Hop: Atlanta star Sierra Gates got some new ink, sitting for a robust tattoo that runs from her stomach to her calf.
—Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 16 Apr. 2024
The Kings are listing Murray as questionable due to left calf soreness, adding another layer to their injury woes with Kevin Huerter out for the season with a torn labrum and Malik Monk out for at least four weeks with a right MCL sprain.
—Jason Anderson, Sacramento Bee, 9 Apr. 2024
Meet the Indianapolis Zoo's new baby rhino Before the 300-pound calf joins the exhibit this spring, the zoo is offering a meet and greet opportunity with her and her mom.
—The Indianapolis Star, 9 Apr. 2024
The whale’s carcass, which had been scavenged by sharks, was pulled to shore for a necropsy and identified as a mom from the 2024 calving season, having given birth to her sixth calf this past winter.
—Rebekah Riess, CNN, 5 Apr. 2024
On March 3, two months after fishermen spotted it offshore from Edisto, South Carolina, with its head, mouth, and lips cut open by a boat propeller, a calf was reported dead on Cumberland Island National Seashore in Georgia.
—John Deem, USA TODAY, 5 Apr. 2024
The whale's calf is not expected to survive without its mother and has not been seen in weeks, NOAA said.
—CBS News, 5 Apr. 2024
No stranger to injury, the Texas Tech product missed much of spring training with a strained left calf.
—Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Apr. 2024
The calf can then be released into the ocean once her pod travels nearby, John said Thursday at the news conference.
—Andrew Jeong, Washington Post, 6 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'calf.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near calf
Cite this Entry
“Calf.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/calf. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
calf
2 of 2 noun
plural calves
: the fleshy or muscular back part of the leg below the knee
Etymology
Noun
Old English cealf "young cow"
Noun
Middle English calf "part of the leg"; of Norse origin
Medical Definition
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