calve

verb6

1. •
   To give birth to a calf.

   • The farmer could tell Bessie was about to calve.
2. •
   To give birth to (a calf).
3. •
   (figurative) To shed a large piece.

   • The glacier was starting to calve even as we watched.
4. •
   (figurative) To break off.

   • The sea was dangerous because of icebergs calving off the nearby glacier.
5. •
   (figurative) To shed (a large piece); to set loose (a mass of ice).

   • The glacier was starting to calve an iceberg even as we watched.
6. •
   To assist in a cow’s giving birth to a calf.

   • The farmer calved Bessie for almost two hours.