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Calf: meaning, definitions and examples

๐Ÿ„
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calf

 

[kรฆf ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Noun

animal

A calf is a young cow or bull that is less than one year old.

Synonyms

baby cow, heifer, young bovine.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
calf

Refers to a young cow or bull that is still dependent on its mother. Commonly used in both everyday speech and farming contexts.

  • The farmer took care of the newborn calf.
  • The calf followed its mother around the field.
baby cow

A more informal term for a young cow, often used by children or in contexts where simplicity is needed.

  • Look, mommy, a baby cow!
  • The baby cow was just born last night.
young bovine

A more technical term that can refer to any young member of the cattle family. It is commonly used in scientific, agricultural, or veterinary contexts.

  • The veterinarian examined the young bovine for any signs of illness.
  • In the study, young bovines were observed for growth rates.
heifer

Usually refers to a young female cow that has not yet had a calf. Commonly used in farming and agricultural contexts.

  • The heifer will become part of the dairy herd next year.
  • They are raising heifers for future milk production.

Examples of usage

  • The farmer has a herd of calves on his farm.
  • The calf was frolicking in the field.
  • The calf was separated from its mother.
  • The calf was in good health.
  • The calf was grazing in the pasture.
Context #2 | Noun

anatomy

The back part of the leg between the knee and the ankle in humans.

Synonyms

calf muscle.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
calf

In the context of human anatomy, this word refers to the back portion of the lower leg.

  • After running a marathon, my calf is sore.
  • She wears compression socks to support her calf muscles during long flights.
calf muscle

This term is specifically used when discussing the muscles in the back of the lower leg, useful in medical, fitness, and sports contexts.

  • Stretching the calf muscle can help prevent cramps.
  • He injured his calf muscle while playing soccer last week.

Examples of usage

  • He felt a sharp pain in his calf.
  • She stretched her calf muscles before running.
  • He has a tattoo on his calf.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

  • The word 'calf' comes from the Old English term 'cealf', which meant 'young cow'.
  • The term has Germanic roots, with related words in several languages, such as 'kalb' in German.

Agriculture

  • Cows can give birth to one calf at a time, but twins can occur rarely.
  • Calves are usually weaned from their motherโ€™s milk at about 6 to 10 months of age.

Science

  • A calf's diet transitions from milk to solid food, which helps in their digestive development.
  • Newborn calves can stand and walk within a few hours after birth, which is critical for their survival.

Pop Culture

  • In children's books and cartoons, calves are often depicted as playful and friendly characters.
  • Calves are sometimes featured in farm-themed toys, representing innocence and childhood.

Health and Nutrition

  • Dairy products made from cow's milk, like cheese and yogurt, come from older cows after they've raised their calves.
  • Calf growth is important for the beef industry, as they eventually become beef cattle.

Translations

Translations of the word "calf" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น bezerro

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคฌเค›เคกเคผเคพ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Kalb

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ anak sapi

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ั‚ะตะปั

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ cielฤ™

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ๅญ็‰›

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท veau

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ ternero

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท buzaฤŸฤฑ

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ์†ก์•„์ง€

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุนุฌู„

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ tele

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ teฤพa

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๅฐ็‰›

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ tele

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ kรกlfur

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะฑาฑะทะฐัƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒฎแƒ‘แƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ buzov

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ ternero

Word Frequency Rank

At #6,876 in frequency, this word belongs to advanced vocabulary. It's less common than core vocabulary but important for sophisticated expression.