Calque Definition
kălk
calques
verb
calques
To make a loan translation from (a word in another language).
American Heritage
To adopt (a word or phrase) from one language to another by semantic translation of its parts.
Wiktionary
Advertisement
noun
calques
A borrowing by which a specialized meaning of a word or phrase in one language is transferred to another language by a literal translation of each of the individual elements (Ex.: masterpiece, from German meisterstück)
Webster's New World
Synonyms:
- loan-translation
- calque formation
Advertisement
Other Word Forms of Calque
Noun
Singular:
calque
Plural:
calquesOrigin of Calque
French from calquer to trace, copy from Italian calcare to press from Latin calcāre to tread on from calx heel
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
-
From French calque (“calque/loan translation”), from French calquer (“to trace”), from Italian calcare.
From Wiktionary
Calque Is Also Mentioned In
Advertisement
Find Similar Words
Find similar words to calque using the buttons below.