calve

IPA/kɑːv/
IPA/kæv/

calve — verb

  • calvepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • calveshe / she / it
  • calvedpast simple
  • calving-ing form

1. A female cow giving birth to its baby — when the young cow, called a calf, is de

1.verbintransitiveB2
Definition

A female cow giving birth to its baby — when the young cow, called a calf, is delivered by its mother. The word is also used for other large mammals such as elephants, whales, and giraffes.

Example

The farmer helped the old cow calve safely in the barn at night.

intransitive: cow + calve with no object

The herd calves in early spring when fresh grass appears and weather is mild.

third-person singular: the herd calves

Common collocations
  • calve safely
  • calve early
  • calve twins
  • begin to calve
  • help a cow calve
Synonyms
  • give birth

    General term for all mammals; much more common and broader in scope than 'calve'

  • drop a calf

    Informal expression used by farmers; less common than 'calve' in general writing

Grammar Patterns

calve (no object)

Usage Note

Used exclusively for cows and a few large mammals such as elephants, whales, and giraffes. Unlike the general verb 'give birth,' 'calve' is not used for humans or small domestic animals like dogs or cats.

Common Mistakes

Our dog calved last week.
Our dog gave birth last week.
'calve' is only used for cows and a few large mammals, not for dogs or cats.
She calved a healthy baby boy.
She gave birth to a healthy baby boy.
'calve' is never used for humans.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

'Calve' is the specific verb used for cows (and a few other large mammals like elephants and whales) when they produce their young. It is the most precise term in farming and veterinary contexts. 'Give birth' is the general verb for all mammals, including humans, and is much more common in everyday English — you can use it for any animal, but it lacks the specificity of 'calve.' 'Drop a calf' is an informal, colloquial expression used mainly by farmers and ranchers in spoken contexts; it is less common in formal or written English. For example, a farmer might say 'The heifer dropped a healthy calf last night' when talking to a neighbor, but a veterinarian's report would say 'The heifer calved without complications.'

calve ↗give birth ↗drop a calf

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • calve safely
  • calve early
  • begin to calve
  • help a cow calve
  • calve twins

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

'Calve' comes from Old English 'calfian,' which meant 'to give birth to a calf.' The word is built on the Old English noun 'calf' (a young cow) plus a verb-forming suffix. Over time, the use has expanded slightly to cover the birth of other large mammals, but the core meaning has remained the same for over a thousand years.