cleave

1
[ kleev ]
See synonyms for: cleaveclavecleftcloven on Thesaurus.com

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.

Origin of cleave

1
First 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, adverb

Words Nearby cleave

Other definitions for cleave (2 of 2)

cleave2
[ 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.

  2. to make by or as if by cutting: to cleave a path through the wilderness.

  1. to penetrate or pass through (air, water, etc.): The bow of the boat cleaved the water cleanly.

  2. 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).

Origin of cleave

2
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”

Other words for cleave

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use cleave in a sentence

  • 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.

    Devil-Worship in France | Arthur Edward Waite
  • Lift high the sword, cleave down the haughty warrior, And dip thy spear in blood, thou son of Odin!

    The Death of Balder | Johannes Ewald

British Dictionary definitions for cleave (1 of 2)

cleave1

/ (kliːv) /


verbcleaves, cleaving, cleft, cleaved, clove, cleft, cleaved or cloven
  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

  1. (when intr, foll by through) to penetrate or traverse

Origin of cleave

1
Old English clēofan; related to Old Norse kljūfa, Old High German klioban, Latin glūbere to peel

Derived forms of cleave

  • cleavable, adjective
  • cleavability, noun

British Dictionary definitions for cleave (2 of 2)

cleave2

/ (kliːv) /


verb
  1. (intr foll by to) to cling or adhere

Origin of cleave

2
Old English cleofian; related to Old High German klebēn to stick

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012