释义 |
calve I. \ˈkav, ˈkaf, -aa(ə)-, -ai-, -ȧ-, -ä-\ verb (-ed/-ing/-s) Etymology: Middle English calven, from Old English cealfian, from cealf calf — more at calf intransitive verb 1. a. : to give birth to a calf — sometimes used with down b. : to bear young : produce offspring 2. of an ice mass : to separate or break so that a part becomes detached transitive verb 1. : to produce by birth 2. of an ice mass : to let break off and become detached < the glacier calved a large iceberg > II. \ˈkȧv, -ȯ-\ intransitive verb (-ed/-ing/-s) Etymology: probably from Flemish inkalven to cave in, from in + kalven to bear a calf, to calve (said of a glacier); akin to Old English cealfian dialect England, of an earth or rock mass : to fall especially from undermining : cave — used with in |