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cleave
1[ kleev ]
verb (used without object)
- 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.
cleave
2[ kleev ]
verb (used with object)
- 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)
- 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 ).
cleave
1/ kliːv /
verb
- to split or cause to split, esp along a natural weakness
- tr to make by or as if by cutting
to cleave a path
- whenintr, foll by through to penetrate or traverse
cleave
2/ kliːv /
verb
- 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
Origin of cleave2
Word History and Origins
Origin of cleave1
Origin of cleave2
Example Sentences
These bacteria produce antibiotic-cleaving enzymes that work as molecular scissors, which are released into and kept inside the periplasmic space.
Questions immediately arose about what could have caused more than 50 apartments to suddenly cleave away from the rest of the building.
Some limestone is cleaved from the cliff with a pickaxe and burned in a kiln.
Walter Isaacson’s The Code Breaker cleaves even more closely to scientific laboratories, following the personalities behind the making of CRISPR.
More recently, universalism has become a dividing line of its own that cleaves through traditional conceptions of political “left” and “right.”
Van Cleave maintains that in this day and age, however, Digital Detox Week is "unimplementable."
Were the members of them to receive the truth, and jointly to cleave to it, these societies would thereby perish.
In Covenanting, there should be made engagements to cleave to new correct views of truth and duty.
His tongue would cleave to his mouth in a woman's presence, let alone his lying to her.
She would cleave to the good God Lucifer, and she aspired to be the bride of Asmodeus.
Lift high the sword, cleave down the haughty warrior, And dip thy spear in blood, thou son of Odin!
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