calve

A verb used to indicate the act of giving birth to a calf (for cows) or, in a figurative sense, the breaking off of a mass of ice from a glacier or iceberg.

• 🇩🇪Verb, das die Geburt eines Kalbes bei Kühen bezeichnet oder, im übertragenen Sinne, das Abbrechen von Eismassen von einem Gletscher oder Eisberg.

1. Release ice C1 formal scientific

   To break off a mass of ice from a glacier or iceberg, forming smaller icebergs.

   • The glacier calved a massive iceberg into the ocean.
   • Scientists observed the glacier calving during the expedition.
   • Warm temperatures cause glaciers to calve more frequently.

   🇩🇪Eis abkalben

2. Give birth to a calf B2 formal

   To give birth to a calf, typically used for cows, whales, and other large mammals.

   • The cow is expected to calve in the spring.
   • The whale calved in the warm waters of the bay.
   • Farmers monitor their pregnant cows closely when they are about to calve.

   🇩🇪Ein Kalb zur Welt bringen

• calved past participle
• calved past simple
• calving present participle
• calves third person singular