Definition of 'calf'
Image of
calf
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Word Frequency
calf in British English 1
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word origin
Old English cealf; related to Old Norse kālfr, Gothic kalbō, Old High German kalbaWord Frequency
calf in American English 1
nounWord forms: plural calves or calfs
1.
a young cow or
bull
2.
the young of some other large animals, as the elephant, whale,
hippopotamus,
seal, etc.
Idioms:
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Word origin
ME < OE cealf & ON kalfr < IE *geleb(h)- < base *gel-, to swell, form a ball (hence swelling, fetus, offspring) >
club, L globusWord Frequency
calf in American English 2
nounWord forms: plural calves
the fleshy back part of the leg below the knee
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
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calf
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In other languages
calf
- American English: calf
- Arabic: عِجْل
- Brazilian Portuguese: bezerro
- Chinese: 小牛
- Croatian: tele
- Czech: tele
- Danish: kalv
- Dutch: kalf
- European Spanish: ternero
- Finnish: vasikka eläin
- French: veau animal
- German: Kalb
- Greek: μοσχάρι
- Italian: vitello
- Japanese: 子牛
- Korean: 송아지
- Norwegian: kalv
- Polish: cielę
- European Portuguese: bezerro
- Romanian: vițel
- Russian: теленок
- Latin American Spanish: cría
- Swedish: kalv
- Thai: ลูกวัว
- Turkish: dana
- Ukrainian: теля
- Vietnamese: con bê
British English: calf /kɑːf/ NOUN
leg Your calves are the thick parts at the backs of your legs, between your ankles and your knees.
- American English: calf
- Arabic: رَبْلَة
- Brazilian Portuguese: panturrilha
- Chinese: 小腿
- Croatian: list noge
- Czech: lýtko
- Danish: læg
- Dutch: kuit
- European Spanish: pantorrilla
- Finnish: pohje
- French: mollet
- German: Wade
- Greek: γάμπα
- Italian: polpaccio
- Japanese: ふくらはぎ
- Korean: 종아리
- Norwegian: legg
- Polish: łydka
- European Portuguese: gémeo
- Romanian: gambă
- Russian: икрачасть голени
- Latin American Spanish: pantorrilla
- Swedish: vader
- Thai: น่อง
- Turkish: baldır
- Ukrainian: литка
- Vietnamese: bắp chân
British English: calf NOUN
Your calf is the thick part at the back of your leg, between your ankle and your knee.
...a calf injury.
Nearby words of
calf
Source
Definition of calf from the
Collins English Dictionary
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