| 释义 |
cleave
I. \ˈklēv\ intransitive verb
(cleaved \-vd\ ; also clave \ˈklāv\ ; or clove \ˈklōv\ ; cleaved ; cleaving ; cleaves)
Etymology: Middle English clevien, clivien, from Old English clifian, cleofian; akin to Old High German klebēn to stick, Old Norse klīfa to clamber, cling to, Serbian glîb filth, Old English clǣg clay — more at clay
1. : to adhere firmly and closely as though evenly and securely glued
< the rain continued … their uniforms cleaved uncomfortably to their bodies — Norman Mailer >
< the homespun shirt … was sodden and clove coldly to her shivering body — Florette Henri >
2. : to adhere firmly, loyally, or unwaveringly
< the creed … embodied doctrines to which the believer must cleave — Frank Thilly >
< insisted that his students cleave to the facts >
< a man … shall cleave unto his wife — Gen 2:24 (Authorized Version) >
Synonyms: see adhere
II. verb
(cleaved \-vd\ ; also cleft \ˈkleft\ ; or clove \ˈklōv\ ; or archaic clave \ˈklāv\ ; cleaved also cleft or clo·ven \ˈklōvən\ ; cleaving ; cleaves)
Etymology: Middle English cleven, cleoven, from Old English clēofan; akin to Old High German klioban to split, Old Norse kljūfa, Latin glubere to peel, Greek glyphein to carve or hollow out, and perhaps to Old Prussian gleuptene smoothing board of a plow
transitive verb
1.
a. : to divide into two parts by a cutting blow : split
< the final blow cleaving the archbishop's skull — E.V.Lucas >
: pass swiftly through (as water or air) as if by cutting
< our bow … cleaving … the surface of the deep blue water — Ernest Beaglehole >
b. : to divide into distinct parts or portions especially into groups having divergent or opposing views or interests
c. : to cause to undergo cleavage
2.
a. : to sever or separate by cutting or splitting off
b. : to separate (as a person) from the group or (a part) from the whole
< rifts that seemed to cleave soldier from civilian in habit and state of mind — Dixon Wecter >
3. : to penetrate, pierce, or drive a way through
< her slim body … clove the water like a straight gold sword — Elinor Wylie >
: force (a passage) as if by cutting or hewing
< cleave one's way through thick underbrush >
intransitive verb
1. : to split open or apart especially along the grain
< pine fir wood cleaves easily >
2. : to penetrate, pierce, or pass through something usually swiftly as if by cutting or hewing
< a ship cleaving through the water >
< his acumen clove clean to the heart of a piece of writing — D.G.Mandelbaum >
3. : to undergo cleavage
Synonyms: see tear
III. noun
(-s)
Etymology: Irish Gaelic cliabh, from Middle Irish cliab
Irish : basket |