transitive verb cleaved or cleft or clove, cleaved or cleft or cloven clo′·ven, cleaving cleav′·ing

1. to divide by a blow, as with an ax; split
2. to pierce
3. to sever; disunite

Etymology: ME cleven < OE cleofan; akin to Ger klieben < IE base *gleubh-, to cut, slice > Gr glyphein, carve, L glubere, to peel

intransitive verb

1. to split; separate; fall apart
2. to make one's way by or as by cutting

intransitive verb cleaved, cleaving cleav′·ing

1. to adhere; cling (to)
2. to be faithful (to)

Etymology: ME cleven < OE cleofian, to adhere; akin to Ger kleben < IE *gleibh- < base *glei-: see clay