好词典

calf

UK /kɑːf/US /kæf/

词源

源自古英语 cealf,源自原始日耳曼语 *kalbaz,与德语 Kalb、荷兰语 kalf 同源。

noun

❶ 指小牛,尤指未满一岁的幼年牛,常用于农业或畜牧业语境中描述牛的幼崽。

“The farmer fed the calf with fresh milk.”

(农夫用新鲜牛奶喂养小牛。)

“A newborn calf stood unsteadily on its legs.”

(刚出生的小牛腿脚不稳地站着。)

❶ 指小腿后部的肌肉部位,即腓肠肌,是人体下肢的重要肌肉群。

“He stretched his calves before running.”

(他在跑步前拉伸了小腿肌肉。)

“Her calves ached after hiking uphill.”

(徒步上山后她的小腿酸痛。)

同义词:heifer (指小母牛), veal (小牛肉), shank (小腿)

常见短语

golden calf — 比喻被过度崇拜的财富或物质对象,源自圣经中以色列人崇拜金牛犊的故事。

“Some people worship money as a golden calf.”

(有些人把金钱当作金牛犊来崇拜。)

calf love — 指青少年时期天真幼稚的初恋,带有不成熟和短暂的特质。

“Their relationship was just calf love that didn't last.”

(他们的关系只是没有持续下去的幼稚初恋。)