Definitions

1. noun

a word or phrase borrowed from another language, but translated literally, often resulting in a somewhat unnatural or awkward expression in the borrowing language.

“The term ‘smog’ is a calque of ‘smoke and fog’.”

2. verb

to translate or interpret a word or phrase from another language literally, often with awkward results.

“The phrase ‘brunch’ was calqued from ‘breakfast’ and ‘lunch’.”