calf

IPA/kɑːf/
KK[kˈæf]IPA/kæf/

calf — noun

  • calfsingular
  • calvesplural

1. the baby form of a cow, or of a large animal such as an elephant or whale

1.名詞B1
釋義

the baby form of a cow, or of a large animal such as an elephant or whale

例句

Élise fed the calf warm milk before sunrise on the farm.

collocation: feed a calf

The elephant calf followed its mother across the dry riverbed.

pattern: species noun + calf

同義詞
  • cub

    used for the young of animals such as bears and lions, not cows

  • foal

    used for a young horse or donkey, not for cattle

  • kid

    usually means a young goat, so it fits different animals

文法句型

a calf

elephant calf / whale calf / buffalo calf

用法筆記

By itself, calf usually means a baby cow. With other large animals, English often adds the species name before it, as in elephant calf or whale calf.

常見錯誤

❌Two calfs were sleeping by the fence.
✅Two calves were sleeping by the fence.
💡the plural form is 'calves', not 'calfs'.
❌The sheep stayed close to her calf.
✅The sheep stayed close to her lamb.
💡'calf' is not used for a baby sheep.

2. used in the phrase in calf to say that a cow is carrying a baby

2.名詞C1
釋義

used in the phrase in calf to say that a cow is carrying a baby

例句

The vet confirmed that the brown cow was in calf again.

fixed phrase: be in calf

The farm record showed which cows were in calf this spring.

同義詞
  • pregnant

    more general word used for both people and animals

反義詞

文法句型

be in calf

用法筆記

Used almost only after be, especially for cows and similar farm animals. Do not use it for people.

常見錯誤

❌The cow has calf.
✅The cow is in calf.
💡this meaning uses the fixed phrase 'in calf', not 'have calf'.
❌My sister is in calf.
✅My sister is pregnant.
💡'in calf' is for animals such as cows, not for people.

3. the fleshy bulge on the rear of your lower leg

3.名詞B2
釋義

the fleshy bulge on the rear of your lower leg

例句

David felt a sharp pain in his calf after the long run.

collocation: pain in one's calf

The nurse pressed Emily's calf to check for swelling.

同義詞
  • calf muscle

    more explicit phrase for the muscle area in the back of the lower leg

文法句型

pain in one's calf

stretch one's calf

用法筆記

This sense names the back part of the lower leg, not the ankle joint or the whole lower leg. It often appears in contexts about pain, exercise, and injury.

常見錯誤

❌My ankle hurts after the run.
✅My calf hurts after the run.
💡the calf is the fleshy part below the knee, not the joint above the foot.
❌Both of my calf are tight today.
✅Both of my calves are tight today.
💡use the plural when you mean both legs.

4. soft leather from a young cow's skin, often used for shoes, gloves, and book cov

4.名詞C1
釋義

soft leather from a young cow's skin, often used for shoes, gloves, and book covers

例句

The wallet was made of smooth calf and stitched by hand.

pattern: made of calf

Paloma chose calf for the jacket because it felt soft and light.

同義詞
  • calfskin

    more explicit and more common word for this type of fine leather

  • leather

    broader term covering many animal skins, not only calf leather

文法句型

made of calf

bound in calf

用法筆記

This material sense is usually uncountable and appears in contexts about luxury leather goods. It refers to the leather itself, not to the living animal.

常見錯誤

❌The sofa was covered in calf.
✅The sofa was covered in leather.
💡calf usually names a fine leather for smaller items such as shoes, gloves, and book covers.