cleave

¹ American  

[kleev] / kliv /

verb (used without object)

cleaved, clave, cleaved, cleaving

1. to adhere closely; stick; cling (usually followed byto ).

2. to remain faithful (usually followed byto ).

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

---

cleave ² American  

[kleev] / kliv /

verb (used with object)

cleft, cleaved, clove, cleft, cleaved, cloven, cleaving

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, cleaved, clove, cleft, cleaved, cloven, cleaving

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 bythrough ).

cleave ¹ British  

/ 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. to penetrate or traverse

---

cleave ² British  

/ kliːv /

verb

1. to cling or adhere

---

Other Word Forms

• cleavability noun
• cleavable adjective
• cleavingly adverb

Etymology

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”

Example Sentences

Which you can still see if you take “a sweet trip,” not to the candy shop but along Grand Central Avenue, where it cleaves through Disney’s Grand Central Creative Campus.

From Los Angeles Times

The crimson blade becomes a streak through the air and cleaves through the plants.

From Literature

I thought that if we could cleave to Suzanne’s narrative drive, we could give the audience great pleasure.”

From Los Angeles Times

I came here as a child and as I look around me now, I realize I have almost no memories that predate my arrival and few bonds of affection that cleave so tightly.

From Los Angeles Times

And now at Royal Portrush in this year's Open Championship, Scheffler has cleaved open an advantage of four shots after 54 holes following a display of understated authority in the hazy Northern Irish sunshine.

From BBC

Related Words

• hew
• sunder