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.

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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.

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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

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cleave ² British  

/ kliːv /

verb

1. to cling or adhere

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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”

Explanation

Cleave, a verb, has two very different meanings. It can describe cutting or splitting something apart with a sharp instrument, or — oddly enough — it can describe sticking to something like glue. To cleave or not to cleave, that is the question. Cleave can refer to being in close contact, to staying really, really close to someone or something: "If you are walking in the pitch-black woods without a flashlight, you want to cleave to the person in front of you." On the other hand, it can mean to split apart with a sharp tool — which is not the action you want to happen while walking in the woods. We've seen that movie.

Example Sentences

Mr Cleave said since the group had received the request by phone last week they had been practising the shanty in readiness, but he could not disclose which song it was.

From BBC • Dec. 2, 2025

In 1985, Dr. Cleave, an environmental engineer, flew aboard the Atlantis, helping to operate its robotic arm during other astronauts’ spacewalks.

From New York Times • Dec. 13, 2023

John Dickerson and Kris Van Cleave for CBS News: “How a government shutdown could cause chaos at airports”

From Slate • Sep. 28, 2023

“Sure it is,” said Van Cleave, who organized the event.

From Washington Post • Jan. 16, 2023

Mrs. Van Cleave really wants you to do it.

From Comrade Yetta by Edwards, Albert

Related Words

• hew
• sunder