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cleave
1[ kleev ]
/ kliv /
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verb (used without object), cleaved or (Archaic) clave; cleaved; cleav·ing.
to adhere closely; stick; cling (usually followed by to).
to remain faithful (usually followed by to): to cleave to one's principles in spite of persecution.
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Origin of cleave
1First recorded before 900; Middle English cleven, Old English cleofian, clifian, cognate with Old High German klebēn, German kleben
OTHER WORDS FROM cleave
cleav·ing·ly, adverbWords nearby cleave
Other definitions for cleave (2 of 2)
cleave2
[ kleev ]
/ kliv /
verb (used with object), cleft or cleaved or clove, cleft or cleaved or clo·ven, cleav·ing.
to split or divide by or as if by a cutting blow, especially along a natural line of division, as the grain of wood.
to make by or as if by cutting: to cleave a path through the wilderness.
to penetrate or pass through (air, water, etc.): The bow of the boat cleaved the water cleanly.
to cut off; sever: to cleave a branch from a tree.
verb (used without object), cleft or cleaved or clove, cleft or cleaved or clo·ven, cleav·ing.
to part or split, especially along a natural line of division.
to penetrate or advance by or as if by cutting (usually followed by through).
Origin of cleave
2First recorded before 950; Middle English cleven, Old English clēofan, cognate with Old High German klioban, German klieben, Old Norse kljūfa; akin to Greek glýphein “to carve,” Latin glūbere “to peel”
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use cleave in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for cleave (1 of 2)
cleave1
/ (kliːv) /
verb cleaves, cleaving, cleft, cleaved, clove, cleft, cleaved or cloven
to split or cause to split, esp along a natural weakness
(tr) to make by or as if by cuttingto cleave a path
(when intr, foll by through) to penetrate or traverse
Derived forms of cleave
cleavable, adjectivecleavability, nounWord Origin for cleave
Old English clēofan; related to Old Norse kljūfa, Old High German klioban, Latin glūbere to peel
British Dictionary definitions for cleave (2 of 2)
cleave2
/ (kliːv) /
verb
(intr foll by to) to cling or adhere
Word Origin for cleave
Old English cleofian; related to Old High German klebēn to stick
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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