cleave

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.

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"cleave." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 20 June 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/CLEAVE>.

APA Style

cleave. (n.d.). Retrieved June 20th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/CLEAVE

cleave

transitive verb

cleaved, cleaved, cleav′ing

to divide by a blow, as with an ax; split
to pierce
to sever; disunite

Origin of cleave

Middle English cleven from Old English cleofan; akin to German klieben from Indo-European base an unverified form gleubh-, to cut, slice from source Classical Greek glyphein, carve, Classical Latin glubere, to peel

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

intransitive verb

cleaved, cleav′ing

to adhere; cling (to)
to be faithful (to)

Origin of cleave

Middle English cleven from Old English cleofian, to adhere; akin to German kleben from Indo-European an unverified form gleibh- from base an unverified form glei-: see clay

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MLA Style

"cleave." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 20 June 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/CLEAVE>.

APA Style

cleave. (n.d.). Retrieved June 20th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/CLEAVE

cleave

verb

cleft, or cleaved or clove cleft, or cleaved or clo·ven cleav·ing, cleaves

verb

transitive

To split with a sharp instrument. See Synonyms at tear¹.
To make or accomplish by or as if by cutting: cleave a path through the ice.
To pierce or penetrate: The wings cleaved the foggy air.
Chemistry To split (a complex molecule) into simpler molecules.

verb

intransitive

To split or be capable or splitting, especially along a natural line of division: Certain brittle woods cleave easily.
To penetrate or pass through something, such as water or air.

Origin of cleave

Middle English cleven from Old English clēofan ; see gleubh- in Indo-European roots.

Related Forms:

cleav′a·ble
adjective

intransitive verb

cleaved, cleav·ing, cleaves

To adhere, cling, or stick fast.
To be faithful: cleave to one's principles.

Origin of cleave

Middle English cleven from Old English cleofian

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Link/Cite

Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"cleave." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 20 June 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/CLEAVE>.

APA Style

cleave. (n.d.). Retrieved June 20th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/CLEAVE

Verb

(third-person singular simple present cleaves, present participle cleaving, simple past cleft, clove, or in UK: cleaved, or obsolete clave, past participle cleft, cloven, or in UK: cleaved)

To split or sever something or as if with a sharp instrument.
The wings cleaved the foggy air.
(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.
To make or accomplish by or as if by cutting.
The truck cleaved a path through the ice.
(chemistry) To split (a complex molecule) into simpler molecules.
(intransitive) To split.
(intransitive, mineralogy) Of a crystal, to split along a natural plane of division.

Noun

(plural cleaves)

(technology) Flat, smooth surface produced by cleavage, or any similar surface produced by similar techniques, as in glass.

Origin

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”).

Verb

(third-person singular simple present cleaves, present participle cleaving, simple past and past participle cleaved)

(intransitive) To cling, adhere or stick fast to something; used with to or unto.

Origin

From Old English cleofian, from Proto-Germanic *klibjaną, from Proto-Indo-European *gley- (“to stick”). Cognates include German kleben, Dutch kleven.

English Wiktionary. Available under CC-BY-SA license.