calve

Verb
Synonyms: break uphave young

WordNet 3.0

Verb (2)

  1. release ice“The icebergs and glaciers calve”Synonyms: break up
  2. birth“the whales calve at this time of year”Synonyms: have young
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Calve \Calve\ (k[aum]v), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Calved 3; p. pr. & vb. n. Calving.] [AS. cealfian. See Calf.]

1.To bring forth a calf. "Their cow calveth." --Job xxi. 10. [1913 Webster]

2.To bring forth young; to produce offspring. [1913 Webster]

Canst thou mark when the hinds do calve?— Job xxxix. 1.[1913 Webster]
The grassy clods now calved.— Molton.[1913 Webster]

3.(Phys. Geog.) To throw off fragments which become icebergs; -- said of a glacier. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

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