cleave

1 of 2

verb (1)

ˈklēv

cleaved ˈklēvd How to pronounce cleave (audio)

or clove ˈklōv How to pronounce cleave (audio)

also clave ˈklāv How to pronounce cleave (audio)

; cleaved; cleaving

intransitive verb

: to adhere firmly and closely or loyally and unwaveringly

They kept themselves strictly separate, each cleaving to their own language, rituals, and food.

Gourmet

Notice was served on the Democratic party that it must cleave to the Jackson line if it wanted the labor vote.

Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr.

The film's script has the same lack of pretension, cleaving to the teen movie formula with its high school cliques, clowns and bullies …

Sandra Hall

cleave

2 of 2

verb (2)

cleaved ˈklēvd How to pronounce cleave (audio)

also cleft ˈkleft How to pronounce cleave (audio)

or clove ˈklōv How to pronounce cleave (audio)

; cleaved also cleft or cloven ˈklō-vən How to pronounce cleave (audio)

; cleaving

transitive verb

: to divide by or as if by a cutting blow : split

The blow cleaved the victim's skull.

: to separate into distinct parts and especially into groups having divergent views

The political party was cleaved by internal bickering.

: to subject to chemical cleavage

a protein cleaved by an enzyme

intransitive verb

: to split especially along the grain

The ax easily cleaved through the log.

: to penetrate or pass through something by or as if by cutting

The ship's bow cleaved through the water.

Did you know?

Cleave has two homographs, each with a distinct origin. There is cleave meaning "to adhere firmly and closely or loyally and unwaveringly," as in "a family that cleaves to tradition"; that one is from Old English clifian, meaning "to adhere." And there is the cleave with meanings relating to splitting and dividing, which derives from Old English clēofan, meaning "to split." The two have slightly different inflections. The "split" cleave usually has cleaved as its past tense form, but cleft and clove are both in use as well; as its past participle form (the form that often occurs with have), cleaved is most common, but cleft and cloven are also used. The "adhere" cleave commonly has cleaved or clove (and occasionally clave) as its past tense and cleaved as its past participle.

cleave

verb

as in to adhere

to hold to something firmly as if by adhesion you should resolutely cleave to the facts in your report

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

adhere
cling
stick
hew
glue
bind
unite
fuse
cohere
fasten

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

loosen
drop
fall

Synonym Chooser

Some common synonyms of cleave are adhere, cling, cohere, and stick. While all these words mean "to become closely attached," cleave stresses strength of attachment.

the wet shirt cleaved to his back

The words adhere and cleave can be used in similar contexts, but adhere is often interchangeable with stick but sometimes implies a growing together.

antibodies adhering to a virus

The meanings of cling and cleave largely overlap; however, cling implies attachment by hanging on with arms or tendrils.

clinging to a capsized boat

The words cohere and cleave are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, cohere suggests a sticking together of parts so that they form a unified mass.

eggs will make the mixture cohere

While in some cases nearly identical to cleave, stick implies attachment by affixing or by being glued together.

couldn't get the label to stick

单词	cleave
释义	cleave 1 of 2 verb (1) ˈklēv cleaved ˈklēvd or clove ˈklōv also clave ˈklāv ; cleaved; cleaving intransitive verb : to adhere firmly and closely or loyally and unwaveringly They kept themselves strictly separate, each cleaving to their own language, rituals, and food. Gourmet Notice was served on the Democratic party that it must cleave to the Jackson line if it wanted the labor vote. Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr. The film's script has the same lack of pretension, cleaving to the teen movie formula with its high school cliques, clowns and bullies … Sandra Hall cleave 2 of 2 verb (2) cleaved ˈklēvd also cleft ˈkleft or clove ˈklōv ; cleaved also cleft or cloven ˈklō-vən ; cleaving transitive verb 1 : to divide by or as if by a cutting blow : split The blow cleaved the victim's skull. 2 : to separate into distinct parts and especially into groups having divergent views The political party was cleaved by internal bickering. 3 : to subject to chemical cleavage a protein cleaved by an enzyme intransitive verb 1 : to split especially along the grain The ax easily cleaved through the log. 2 : to penetrate or pass through something by or as if by cutting The ship's bow cleaved through the water. Did you know? Cleave has two homographs, each with a distinct origin. There is cleave meaning "to adhere firmly and closely or loyally and unwaveringly," as in "a family that cleaves to tradition"; that one is from Old English clifian, meaning "to adhere." And there is the cleave with meanings relating to splitting and dividing, which derives from Old English clēofan, meaning "to split." The two have slightly different inflections. The "split" cleave usually has cleaved as its past tense form, but cleft and clove are both in use as well; as its past participle form (the form that often occurs with have), cleaved is most common, but cleft and cloven are also used. The "adhere" cleave commonly has cleaved or clove (and occasionally clave) as its past tense and cleaved as its past participle. Synonyms Verb (1) adhere cling hew stick See all Synonyms & Antonyms Word History Etymology Verb (1) Middle English clevien, from Old English clifian; akin to Old High German kleben to stick Verb (2) Middle English cleven, from Old English clēofan; akin to Old Norse kljūfa to split, Latin glubere to peel, Greek glyphein to carve First Known Use Verb (1) before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above Verb (2) before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1 Phrases Containing cleave cleave to cleave to Kids Definition cleave 1 of 2 verb ˈklēv cleaved or clove ˈklōv ; cleaving : to cling to a person or thing closely The child cleaved to his mother. cleave 2 of 2 verb cleaved also cleft ˈkleft or clove ˈklōv ; cleaved also cleft or cloven ˈklō-vən ; cleaving : to divide by or as if by a cutting blow : split The ax cleaved the log in two. Medical Definition cleave transitive verb ˈklēv cleaved; cleaving : to subject to chemical cleavage a protein cleaved by an enzyme cleave verb as in to adhere to hold to something firmly as if by adhesion you should resolutely cleave to the facts in your report Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance adhere cling stick hew glue bind unite fuse cohere fasten Antonyms & Near Antonyms loosen drop fall Synonym Chooser Some common synonyms of cleave are adhere, cling, cohere, and stick. While all these words mean "to become closely attached," cleave stresses strength of attachment. the wet shirt cleaved to his back The words adhere and cleave can be used in similar contexts, but adhere is often interchangeable with stick but sometimes implies a growing together. antibodies adhering to a virus The meanings of cling and cleave largely overlap; however, cling implies attachment by hanging on with arms or tendrils. clinging to a capsized boat The words cohere and cleave are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, cohere suggests a sticking together of parts so that they form a unified mass. eggs will make the mixture cohere While in some cases nearly identical to cleave, stick implies attachment by affixing or by being glued together. couldn't get the label to stick
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cleave

verb (1)

verb (2)

Did you know?

Synonyms

Word History

Phrases Containing cleave

Kids Definition

verb

verb

Medical Definition

transitive verb

verb

Synonym Chooser