clave

¹ American  

[kleyv] / kleɪv /

verb

Archaic.

1. simple past tense of cleave.

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clave ² American  

[klah-vey] / ˈklɑ veɪ /

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.

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clave ¹ British  

/ 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

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clave ² British  

/ kleɪv /

verb

1. archaic a past tense of cleave 1

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clave ³ British  

/ kleɪv /

noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of clave

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

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

clave

“Hey There Little Insect,” an impish folk-rocker, begs bugs not to bite, incorporating Bo Diddley’s signature clave rhythm.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026

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

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 14, 2024

But Mark Morris, perched on a stool and clacking out the rhythm with a pair of clave sticks, finds plenty to quarrel with as he oversees this rehearsal of his new work.

From Washington Post ● Oct. 21, 2022

You can see why radio likes it—the song is seriously insinuating, milking a jazzy Afro-Cuban piano clave better than anything this side of ’90s house.

From Slate ● Jan. 26, 2018

Weasel's tongue clave to the roof of his mouth, and his teeth chattered audibly against each other, his knees smote together, and his eyes glanced steadfastly upon the phantom.

From Rob of the Bowl, Vol. I (of 2) A Legend of St. Inigoe's by John P. Kennedy

Related Words

• hew
• sunder