calfcalf /kɑːf $ kæf/ ●●○ noun (plural calves /kɑːvz $ kævz/) [countable] 
Word Origin
the part of the back of your leg between your knee and your ankle2the baby of a cow, or of some other large animals, such as an elephant3be in/with calf if a cow is in or with calf, it is going to have a baby → kill the fatted calf at kill1(15)
Word OriginWORD ORIGINcalf
ExamplesOrigin:
1 1300-1400 Old Norse kalfi2-3 Old English cealfEXAMPLES FROM THE CORPUS
word sets- George Williams played his first game after suffering from a strained calf muscle and quite clearly didn't have his full movement.
- How many more calves will she be able to bear?
- Juanito was ready for him, and the Kalashnikov crashed down at Trent's calf.
- Then, work on your calves and ankles so you are ready to concentrate on more advanced leg exercises.
- When she finishes with the calf she puts down the bottle and goes to the console, frowning at the text.
WORD SETS► Animals
Collocationsaardvark, nounadder, nounAfghan, nounalley cat, nounalligator, nounalpaca, nounAlsatian, nounamphibian, nounamphibious, adjectiveangora, nounanimal, nounanteater, nounantelope, nounanthropoid, adjectiveantler, nounape, nounappaloosa, nounarachnid, nounarmadillo, nounasp, nounass, nounbaa, verbbaboon, nounbaby, nounbadger, nounbantam, nounbark, verbbark, nounbarnacle, nounbasset, nounbat, nounbay, nounbay, verbbay, adjectivebeagle, nounbear, nounbeast, nounbeast of burden, nounbeaver, nounbellow, verbbellow, nounbelly, nounbig cat, nounbig game, nounbighorn sheep, nounbilly goat, nounbiped, nounbison, nounbitch, nounbivalve, nounbleat, verbbloodhound, nounbloodstream, nounblow-hole, nounboa, nounboar, nounbobcat, nounbovine, adjectivebow-wow, nounboxer, nounbrainwave, nounbrindled, adjectivebristle, verbbronc, nounbronco, nounbrontosaurus, nounbrush, nounbuck, nounbuffalo, nounbull, nounbulldog, nounbullfrog, nounbullock, nounbull terrier, nounburro, nounburrow, nouncalf, nouncall, nouncalve, verbcamel, nouncanine, adjectivecanine, nouncarapace, nouncarcass, nouncaribou, nouncarnivore, nouncarthorse, nouncat, nouncattle, nouncaudal, adjectivecayman, nouncetacean, nounchameleon, nounchamois, nouncheetah, nounchestnut, nounchickadee, nounchicken, nounchihuahua, nounchimpanzee, nounchinchilla, nounchipmunk, nounchow, nounclaw, nouncloven hoof, nouncoat, nouncob, nouncobra, nouncocker spaniel, nouncold-blooded, adjectivecollie, nouncolouring, nouncolt, nouncomb, nounconnective tissue, nouncony, nouncoon, nouncopperhead, nouncorgi, nouncougar, nouncourtship, nouncow, nouncoyote, nouncoypu, nouncrest, nouncrocodile, nouncrop, verbcrustacean, nouncry, nouncub, nouncur, noundachshund, nounDalmatian, noundeer, nounden, noundentine, noundingo, noundinosaur, noundoe, noundog, noundolphin, noundomesticate, verbdonkey, noundormouse, noundorsal, adjectivedromedary, nounduckbilled platypus, nounearthworm, nounelephant, nounelk, nounentrails, nounermine, nounewe, nounexcreta, nounexcretion, nounfallopian tube, nounfallow deer, nounfang, nounfauna, nounfawn, nounfeed, nounfeeler, nounfeline, adjectivefeline, nounfemale, adjectivefemale, nounferal, adjectiveferret, nounfetlock, nounfieldmouse, nounfilly, nounfin, nounfleece, nounflipper, nounflying fox, nounfoal, nounfoal, verbfoetus, nounforefoot, nounforeleg, nounfox, nounfoxhound, nounfox terrier, nounFriesian, nounfrog, nounfrogspawn, nounfruit bat, nounfur, nounfurry, adjectivegarter snake, noungazelle, noungecko, noungeese, gelding, noungerbil, nounGerman shepherd, noungestation, noungiant panda, noungibbon, noungiraffe, noungnu, noungoat, noungolden retriever, noungopher, noungorilla, noungregarious, adjectivegreyhound, noungroundhog, nounground squirrel, noungrunt, verbguinea pig, nounhack, nounhackles, nounhairless, adjectivehamster, nounhare, nounhart, nounhaunch, nounhedgehog, nounheifer, nounhen, nounherbivore, nounherd, nounhermit crab, nounhibernate, verbhind, adjectivehind, nounhindquarters, nounhippo, nounhippopotamus, nounhock, nounhog, nounhoof, nounhorned, adjectivehorse, nounhound, nounhowl, verbhump, nounhusky, nounhyaena, nounhybrid, nounhyena, nounibex, nouniguana, nounimpala, nouninbred, adjectiveinbreeding, nouninsectivore, nouninterbreed, verbinvertebrate, nounjackal, nounjackrabbit, nounjaguar, nounjellyfish, nounJersey, nounkangaroo, nounkid, nounkoala, nounkookaburra, nounLabrador, nounlair, nounlamb, nounlemming, nounleopard, nounlion, nounlioness, nounlitter, nounlitter, verblizard, nounllama, nounlonghorn, nounlugworm, nounlynx, nounmale, nounmamba, nounmammal, nounmammary, adjectivemammoth, nounmandible, nounmandrill, nounmane, nounman-eater, nounmare, nounmarmoset, nounmarsupial, nounmarten, nounmastitis, nounmate, nounmate, verbmating, nounmaw, nounmenagerie, nounmew, verbmiaow, verbmice, nounmigrant, nounmilk, verbmimic, verbmimic, nounmink, nounmole, nounmollusc, nounmongoose, nounmongrel, nounmonkey, nounmoo, verbmoose, nounmoult, verbmountain goat, nounmountain lion, nounmouse, nounmule, nounmuskrat, nounmussel, nounmustang, nounmutt, nounmuzzle, nounnag, nounnanny goat, nounnative, adjectivenative, nounnest, nounnewt, nounnocturnal, adjectiveocelot, nounoctopus, nounoffspring, nounoink, interjectionokapi, nounOld English sheepdog, nounomnivore, nounomnivorous, adjectiveopossum, nounorangutang, nounotter, nounox, nounpachyderm, nounpack, nounpad, nounpair, nounpanda, nounpanther, nounparasite, nounparasitic, adjectivepaw, nounpaw, verbpeccary, nounpedigree, adjectivepeke, nounPekinese, nounpelt, nounPersian cat, nounpest, nounpheasant, nounpiebald, adjectivepied, adjectivepig, nounpiggy, nounpiglet, nounpincer, nounpine marten, nounpinto, nounpit bull terrier, nounpit pony, nounplankton, nounplate, nounplatypus, nounpointer, nounpolar bear, nounpolecat, nounpolyp, nounpony, nounpooch, nounpoodle, nounporcupine, nounporker, nounporpoise, nounPortuguese man-of-war, nounpossum, nounpouch, nounprairie dog, nounprance, verbpredation, nounpredator, nounpredatory, adjectiveprehensile, adjectiveprey, nounprickle, nounpride, nounprimate, nounproboscis, nounprocreate, verbprowl, verbpterodactyl, nounpuffin, nounpug, nounpullet, nounpuma, nounpup, nounpurebred, adjectivepurr, verbpussy, nounpython, nounquack, verbquadruped, nounquill, nounrabbit, nounrabbit warren, nounrabid, adjectiveraccoon, nounracoon, nounram, nounrat, nounrattler, nounrattlesnake, nounravening, adjectivereindeer, nounreptile, nounretract, verbretriever, nounrhesus monkey, nounrhino, nounrhinoceros, nounroan, nounrodent, nounroe deer, nounrottweiler, nounruminant, nounruminate, verbrump, nounrunt, nounrut, nounsable, nounsac, nounsalamander, nounsausage dog, nounscavenge, verbschool, nounscorpion, nounseal, nounsea lion, nounseashell, nounsea urchin, nounsemen, nounserpent, nounsetter, nounsex, verbshed, verbsheep, nounsheepdog, nounShetland pony, nounshire horse, nounshrew, nounshrimp, nounSiamese cat, nounsilkworm, nounsimian, adjectivesire, nounskin, nounskunk, nounsloth, nounslug, nounsnail, nounsnake, nounsnakebite, nounsnarl, verbsniffer dog, nounsnout, nounsocial, adjectivesow, nounspaniel, nounspawn, verbspawn, nounsperm whale, nounsponge, nounspoor, nounspore, nounspringbok, nounsquid, nounsquirrel, nounstag, nounstallion, nounstarfish, nounSt Bernard, nounsteed, nounsteer, nounsting, nounstinger, nounstoat, nounstomach, nounstray, adjectivestray, nounstud, nounsucker, nounsuckle, verbsuckling, nounswine, nountadpole, nountail, nountame, adjectivetame, verbtapeworm, nountapir, nounteat, nountentacle, nounterrapin, nounterrier, nounterritorial, adjectiveterritory, nountiger, nountigress, nountoad, nountom, nountomcat, nountooth, nountortoise, nountortoiseshell, nountrumpet, verbtrunk, nountufted, adjectiveturtle, nountusk, nountyrannosaurus, nounudder, nounuterus, nounvampire bat, nounvent, nounvermin, nounvertebrate, nounvicuña, nounviper, nounvivarium, nounvixen, nounvole, nounwag, verbwallaby, nounwallow, verbwalrus, nounwarm-blooded, adjectivewarren, nounwarthog, nounwater buffalo, nounwater rat, nounwater vole, nounweasel, nounweevil, nounwhale, nounwhelk, nounwhelp, nounwhelp, verbwhinny, verbwhippet, nounwhisker, nounwild boar, nounwildcat, nounwildebeest, nounwildfowl, nounwinkle, nounwithers, nounwolf, nounwolfhound, nounwombat, nounwool, nounyak, nounyap, verbyap, nounyearling, nounyelp, nounYorkshire terrier, nounyoung, nounzebra, nounzoologist, nounzoology, nounzygote, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES► a cow calves
1 (=produces a calf, a young cow)· At this time of year the cows are calving.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE► fetal· Monolayers of human hepatoma cell line Hep3B were maintained in Dulbecco modified Eagle's medium supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum.· Dulbeco's modified Eagles' medium containing 10% fetal calf serum had an advantage in both plating efficiency and growth.
► golden· The guests were completely cowed, like golden calf worshippers contemplating shards of Moses' broken tablets.
► right· He belted a ten-inch hunting-knife to his right calf.· She had a mild case that left her right calf weak.· A masseuse started to attack Joujou's right calf.· I had a cramp in my right calf.· My strange shoes felt uncomfortable and my right calf muscle pulled each time my foot left the track's cinder surface.· At least the Clippers welcomed back Richardson, who missed two games with a strained right calf.· The first substitution did not come until Richardson suffered a slightly strained right calf early in the fourth quarter.
► young· Thus farmers sell milk and young calves, as well as wool and lambs which are fattened on nearby lowland farms.· The Comanche liked to kill young buffalo calves and eat the curdled, partially digested milk from the stomach.· The only reliable method of preventing parasitic bronchitis is to immunise all young calves with lungworm vaccine.· The six young calves in a pile were all frozen solid.· One female is struck in the back, but still attempts to swim away, accompanied by her young calf.· She has two young calves that look remarkably like fawns without spots.· Old stags and hinds and young calves numbers have not been cut as in the past by the cold climate.
NOUN► bull· I want you to come and look at a week-old bull calf.· Sucklers hit a high of £818 going to M Mackin for a Limousin heifer and bull calf.
► injury· It is very likely that since the calf injury the strength of the muscles will have deteriorated considerably.· His back is sore and a calf injury bothers him.· But the greatest potential damage to Rangers' hopes of victory would be the loss of McCoist with a calf injury.· But a calf injury ruled him out of the final just two days ago.· But Torquay had a League match at Colchester on the same night, with the black star out with a calf injury!· Robson missed Saturday's game at Coventry with shin and calf injuries.· Winger John Hendrie misses the match with a calf injury.· He's got a calf injury.
► muscle· Any exercises which use the calf muscles, such as heel raises, hopping, standing on one leg would be beneficial.· There were thick bulbous calf muscles teetering on stiletto heels.· If you can improve the power of your calf muscles you will find that you can build up your mileage without difficulty.· George Williams played his first game after suffering from a strained calf muscle and quite clearly didn't have his full movement.· But defender Andy Barlow will be sidelined for a month after straining a calf muscle in training.· Harvey Williams did not suit up because of his torn calf muscle.· Only a few minutes ago I felt a slight twitch in the boy's calf muscle.· Williams said Thursday that he expects to miss three weeks with his partially torn calf muscle.
► serum· Monolayers of human hepatoma cell line Hep3B were maintained in Dulbecco modified Eagle's medium supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum.· Many researchers have tried to obtain a medium for growing antibodies that is free from calf serum.· Fetal calf serum is one such ingredient; and there are many others.· Dulbeco's modified Eagles' medium containing 10% fetal calf serum had an advantage in both plating efficiency and growth.
► strain· Ward will have a full squad to choose from apart from former Hartlepool defender Tony Barratt, who has a calf strain.· Sharpe has been down with a calf strain this week but he trained yesterday and does not look in danger.· Glenn Hoddle won't be naming his side, until he's given himself a fitness test on a calf strain.· There's a bigger doubt though, over Martin Ling, who's got a calf strain.
VERB► produce· At least know your gestation times so that you are not surprised when a mating at some forgotten date actually produces a calf!· They produce a single calf once every 2 or 3 years.· It is a fast-growing breed and can produce a more acceptable calf for beef than the Jersey.
► sell· Thus farmers sell milk and young calves, as well as wool and lambs which are fattened on nearby lowland farms.
the part of the back of your leg between your knee and your ankle2the baby of a cow, or of some other large animals, such as an elephant3be in/with calf if a cow is in or with calf, it is going to have a baby → kill the fatted calf at kill1(15)