Pronunciation: [kˈɑːf] (IPA) 
The word "calf" is spelled with a "c" and "a" followed by the letter "l" and the phonetic transcription of this word is /kæf/. The "c" makes the sound of a "k" sound, the "a" makes the short "æ" sound, and the "l" makes the sound of an "l". The word "calf" specifically refers to a young cow or bull, and correct spelling is important in written communication to convey a professional and accurate message.
A calf refers to the young offspring of a mammal, particularly of the bovine family. It is specifically used to describe the young of cows, bulls, or other related animals such as buffalo or bison. A calf is typically born after a gestation period of around nine months, and they are generally smaller in size compared to their fully grown adult counterparts.
Physically, a calf is characterized by its short stature, small body, and underdeveloped features. They typically possess delicate proportions, with shorter and slender legs, as well as a disproportionately larger head in relation to their bodies. Calves are born without fully formed horns and typically lack the muscle mass and strength that mature animals possess.
Calves are highly dependent on their mothers for nourishment and protection during the early stages of their life. They rely on their mothers for milk, which provides essential nutrients and antibodies needed for growth and disease prevention. As calves age, they go through a process called weaning, which involves transitioning from a diet primarily consisting of milk to consuming solid food.
Calves are often raised and nurtured on farms or ranches, where they are brought up to adulthood to provide meat, dairy products, or as work animals. Due to their gentle demeanor and adorable appearance, calves also hold a special place in human culture and are widely regarded as symbols of innocence, curiosity, and nurturance.
The muscular swelling of the back of the leg, formed chiefly by the bellies of the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "calf" originated from the Old English word "calf" or "cælf". This Old English term can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic word *kalbaz, which meant "calf". The Proto-Germanic root *kalbaz is also related to the Old Norse word "kalfi", the Old High German word "kalba", and the Old Frisian word "kalva". The ultimate origin of the word can be found in the Proto-Indo-European root *gwelbh-, meaning "to swell" or "to inflate", which is associated with the image of the swelling belly of a pregnant cow. This root connects "calf" to other words such as "gulf" and "gullet", which share a similar origin in describing swelling or bulging structures.
