Cleave definition
To adhere, cling, or stick fast.
verb
To be faithful.
Cleave to one's principles.
verb
To penetrate or pass through something, such as water or air.
verb
To cleave is to split or separate something, especially along a natural line of separation or using a sharp tool, or to stick or adhere strongly to something or someone.
When you split a bone in half using a knife, this is an example of cleave.
When candle wax causes a candle to become firmly stuck to a table, this is an example of a situation where the candle cleaves to the table.
When you become very attached to someone, this is an example of a situation where you cleave yourself to the person.
verb
To split with a sharp instrument.
verb
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To make or accomplish by or as if by cutting.
Cleave a path through the ice.
verb
To pierce or penetrate.
The wings cleaved the foggy air.
verb
(chemistry) To split (a complex molecule) into simpler molecules.
verb
To split or be capable or splitting, especially along a natural line of division.
Certain brittle woods cleave easily.
verb
To divide by a blow, as with an ax; split.
verb
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To pierce.
verb
To sever; disunite.
verb
To split; separate; fall apart.
verb
To make one's way by or as by cutting.
verb
To be faithful (to)
verb
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(mineralogy) To break a single crystal (such as a gemstone or semiconductor wafer) along one of its more symmetrical crystallographic planes (often by impact), forming facets on the resulting pieces.
verb
To make or accomplish by or as if by cutting.
The truck cleaved a path through the ice.
verb
(chemistry) To split (a complex molecule) into simpler molecules.
verb
(intransitive) To split.
verb
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(intransitive, mineralogy) Of a crystal, to split along a natural plane of division.
verb
To adhere; cling (to)
verb
Origin of cleave
- Middle English cleven from Old English clēofan gleubh- in Indo-European roots
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
- Middle English cleven from Old English cleofian
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
- From Middle English cleven, from the Old English strong verb clēofan, from Proto-Germanic *kleubaną, from Proto-Indo-European *glewbʰ- (“to cut, to slice”). Cognate with Dutch klieven, dialectal German klieben, Swedish klyva, and Greek γλύφω (glýfo, “carve”).
From Wiktionary
- From Old English cleofian, from Proto-Germanic *klibjaną, from Proto-Indo-European *gley- (“to stick”). Cognates include German kleben, Dutch kleven.
From Wiktionary