- Calf means a baby cow.
The small cow nursing from the mother cow is an example of a calf.
- Calf means the baby of a large mammal like a seal or elephant.
The little whale swimming alongside its mother is an example of calf.
- Calf means the back part of the lower leg.
The part of the body accentuated by high heels is an example of calf.
A mother cow with two calves.
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noun pl. calves, calfs
- a young cow or bull
- the young of some other large animals, as the elephant, whale, hippopotamus, seal, etc.
- a large piece of ice broken off from an iceberg or coast glacier
- leather from the hide of a calf; calfskin
- Informal an awkward, callow, or silly youth
Origin: Middle English ; from Old English cealf and amp; Old Norse kalfr ; from Indo-European an unverified form geleb(h)- ; from base an unverified form gel-, to swell, form a ball (hence swelling, fetus, offspring) from source club, Classical Latin globus
noun pl. calves
the fleshy back part of the leg below the knee
Origin: Middle English ; from Old Norse kalfi; akin to kalfr, calf
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
noun pl. calves calves
- a. A young cow or bull.b. The young of certain other mammals, such as the elephant or whale.
- Calfskin leather.
- A large floating chunk of ice split off from a glacier, iceberg, or floe.
- An awkward, callow youth.
Origin: Middle English, from Old English cealf.
noun pl. calves calves
The fleshy muscular back part of the human leg between the knee and ankle.
Origin: Middle English, from Old Norse kālfi; possibly akin to calf1 (from its shape).
calf - Medical Definition
noun pl. calves
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.
calf - Phrases/Idioms
kill the fatted calf
to make a feast of celebration or welcome: Luke 15:23
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.