clave

¹

[kleyv]

verb

Archaic.

1. simple past tense of cleave.

clave

²

[klah-vey]

noun

1. one of a pair of wooden sticks or blocks that are held one in each hand and are struck together to accompany music and dancing.

clave

¹

/ kleɪv, klɑːv /

noun

1. music one of a pair of hardwood sticks struck together to make a hollow sound, esp to mark the beat of Latin-American dance music

clave

²

/ kleɪv /

verb

1. archaic,  a past tense of cleave 1

clave

³

/ kleɪv /

noun

1. zoology a clublike thickening at the upper end of an organ, esp of the antenna of an insect

Word History and Origins

Origin of clave¹

First recorded in 1925–30; Latin American Spanish, Spanish: “keystone,” from Latin clāvis “key”

Word History and Origins

Origin of clave¹

C20: from American Spanish, from Latin clavis key

Origin of clave²

C19: from Latin clāva club

Example Sentences

Slowly, they transition back into their original setlist, playing songs like Fuerza Regida’s “Tú Name” and Clave Especial’s “Tu Tu Tu” as the banda fans start to migrate onto the grass to sit and listen to the artist’s first large festival performance.

From Los Angeles Times

Clave Especial released their highly-anticipated debut studio album, “Mija No Te Asustes,” this past February — and the 16 hard-hitting tracks were well worth the wait.

From Los Angeles Times

Clave Especial and Fuerza Regida join forces in their brassy mobster-core singles “Como Capo” and “No Pasa Nada.”

From Los Angeles Times

The possessive love song “Tu Tu Tu,” which features vocalist Edgardo Nuñez, reached the top of the Regional Mexican Airplay chart just this week — marking a first for the band from Salinas, Calif. Clave Especial is set to kick off their first U.S. headlining tour this fall.

From Los Angeles Times

Hints of Cuban clave rhythms, Tin Pan Alley harmonies, Jewish melodies and piano licks swim through its overarching Romantic theme.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• hew 
• sunder