cleave

¹

[kleev]

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.

cleave

²

[kleev]

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.

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

/ 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

cleave

²

/ kliːv /

verb

1. to cling or adhere

Other Word Forms

• cleavable adjective
• cleavability noun
• cleavingly adverb

Word History and Origins

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”

Word History and Origins

Origin of cleave¹

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

Origin of cleave²

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

Example Sentences

I came here as a child and as I look around me now, I realize I have almost no memories that predate my arrival and few bonds of affection that cleave so tightly.

From Los Angeles Times

And now at Royal Portrush in this year's Open Championship, Scheffler has cleaved open an advantage of four shots after 54 holes following a display of understated authority in the hazy Northern Irish sunshine.

From BBC

They cleave the world into a binary of us and them.

From Salon

As I have explained here at Salon and elsewhere, there is an America Before Trump and an America After Trump; Trump has cleaved American history into two parts.

From Salon

The eight “Mission” films can be cleaved into two groups.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• hew 
• sunder