cleave

¹

[ kleev ]

verb (used without object)

, cleaved or (Archaic) clave; cleaved; cleav·ing.

1. to adhere closely; stick; cling (usually followed by to ).
2. to remain faithful (usually followed by to ):

   to cleave to one's principles in spite of persecution.

cleave

²

[ kleev ]

verb (used with object)

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

1. to split or divide by or as if by a cutting blow, especially along a natural line of division, as the grain of wood.

   Synonyms: rive, rend, halve

2. to make by or as if by cutting:

   to cleave a path through the wilderness.

3. to penetrate or pass through (air, water, etc.):

   The bow of the boat cleaved the water cleanly.

4. 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.

1. to part or split, especially along a natural line of division.
2. to penetrate or advance by or as if by cutting (usually followed by through ).

cleave

¹

/ kliːv /

verb

1. to split or cause to split, esp along a natural weakness
2. tr to make by or as if by cutting

   to cleave a path

3. whenintr, foll by through to penetrate or traverse

cleave

²

/ kliːv /

verb

1. intrfoll byto to cling or adhere

Derived Forms

• ˈcleavable, adjective
• ˌcleavaˈbility, noun

Other Words From

• cleav·ing·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of cleave¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English cleven, Old English cleofian, clifian, cognate with Old High German klebēn, German kleben

Origin of cleave²

First 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”

Word History and Origins

Origin of cleave¹

Old English clēofan; related to Old Norse kljūfa, Old High German klioban, Latin glūbere to peel

Origin of cleave²

Old English cleofian; related to Old High German klebēn to stick

Example Sentences

Viral genome sequences indicate the teen was infected with the type of H5N1 typically found in wild birds and that it had mutated to better cleave to the respiratory tract.

From Salon

Many found buildings cleaved in half, crushed cars and ruined towns.

From New York Times

The story neatly cleaves into two distinct eras.

From Los Angeles Times

From a bird’s eye view, Linting’s candidacy cleaves to many patterns typical of the modern GOP.

From Salon

Elisabeth’s solution is a solution — a green goo called the Substance — that cleaves her cells in two and grows a second, youthful her who climbs out of her back and takes over her existence.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• hew
• sunder