cleave

cleave
[[t]kli͟ːv[/t]]
cleaves, cleaving
(The past tense can be either cleaved or clove; the past participle can be cleaved, cloven, or cleft for meaning 1, and is cleaved for meaning 2.)
1) VERB To cleave something means to split or divide it into two separate parts, often violently. [LITERARY]

[V n] They just cleave the stone along the cracks and trim each piece with a hammer.

Syn:
2) VERB If someone cleaves to something or to someone else, they begin or continue to have strong feelings of loyalty towards them. [FORMAL]

[V to n] She teaches the principles she has cleaved to for more than 40 years...

[V to n] He still clove to this ideal.


English dictionary. 2008.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую
Synonyms:

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Cleave — may refer to: Cleave (fiber), a controlled break in optical fiber RAF Cleave, airbase in Cornwall, England, 1939 1945 People with surname Cleave Chris Cleave (born 1973), British journalist Egbert Cleave (fl. 1870s), American author John Cleave… …   Wikipedia

  • Cleave — steht für: Cleave (Band), eine Rock Band aus Österreich Cleave ist der Familienname folgender Personen: Chris Cleave (* 1973), britischer Journalist und Schriftsteller Mary Louise Cleave (* 1947), amerikanische Astronautin Paul Cleave (* 1974),… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Cleave — (kl[=e]v), v. i. [imp. {Cleaved} (kl[=e]vd), {Clave} (kl[=a]v, Obs.); p. p. {Cleaved}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Cleaving}.] [OE. cleovien, clivien, cliven, AS. cleofian, clifian; akin to OS. klib[=o]n, G. kleben, LG. kliven, D. kleven, Dan. kl[ae]be, Sw …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • cleave — [kli:v] v past tense cleaved , clove [kləuv US klouv] , or cleft [kleft] past participle cleaved , past tense cloven [ˈkləuvən US ˈklou ] or cleft [: Old English; Origin: cleofan. cleave to Old English clifian] …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • Cleave — Cleave, v. i. To part; to open; to crack; to separate; as parts of bodies; as, the ground cleaves by frost. [1913 Webster] The Mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst. Zech. xiv. 4. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • cleave — cleave·land·ite; un·cleave; cleave; …   English syllables

  • cleave — Ⅰ. cleave [1] ► VERB (past clove or cleft or cleaved; past part. cloven or cleft or cleaved) 1) split or sever along a natural grain or line. 2) divide; split …   English terms dictionary

  • Cleave — (kl[=e]v), v. t. [imp. {Cleft} (kl[e^]ft), {Clave} (kl[=a]v, Obs.), {Clove} (kl[=o]v, Obsolescent); p. p. {Cleft}, {Cleaved} (kl[=e]vd) or {Cloven} (kl[=o] v n); p. pr. & vb. n. {Cleaving}.] [OE. cleoven, cleven, AS. cle[ o]fan; akin to OS.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • cleave — [ kliv ] verb transitive LITERARY to cut or break something into two parts with a lot of force cleave ,to phrasal verb transitive 1. ) to stay very close to someone, or to stay close together a ) to stick firmly to something 2. ) to keep… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • cleave — cling, *stick, adhere, cohere Analogous words: *fasten, attach, fix, affix: unite, *join, associate, link, combine, conjoin Antonyms: part Contrasted words: *separate, divorce, divide, sever, sunder: *detach …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • cleave — [v1] divide, split carve, chop, crack, cut, dissect, dissever, disunite, divorce, hack, hew, open, part, pierce, rend, rip, rive, separate, sever, slice, stab, sunder, tear asunder, whack; concepts 98,137,176 Ant. join, meld, unite cleave [v2]… …   New thesaurus

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”