Cleave

Pronunciation

• IPA: /kliːv/
• Rhymes: -iːv

From Middle English cleven, from the Old English strong verb clēofan (""), from Proto-Germanic *kleubaną, from Proto-Indo-European *glewbʰ- ("to cut, to slice"). Cognate with Dutch klieven, dialectal German klieben, Swedish klyva, and Greek γλύφω (glyfó, "carve").

Full definition of cleave

Verb

1. (transitive) To split or sever something or as if with a sharp instrument.The wings cleaved the foggy air.
• ShakespeareO Hamlet, thou hast cleft my heart in twain.
2. (transitive, mineralogy) To break a single crystal (such as a gemstone or semiconductor wafer) along one of its more symmetrical crystallographic planes (often by impact), forming facets on the resulting pieces.
3. (transitive) To make or accomplish by or as if by cutting.The truck cleaved a path through the ice.
4. (transitive, chemistry) To split (a complex molecule) into simpler molecules.
5. (intransitive) To split.
6. (intransitive, mineralogy) Of a crystal, to split along a natural plane of division.

Noun

1. (technology) Flat, smooth surface produced by cleavage, or any similar surface produced by similar techniques, as in glass.

Related terms

• cleavage
• cleft

Derived terms

• cleaver

From Old English cleofian, from Proto-Germanic *klibjanÄ…, from Proto-Indo-European *gley- ("to stick"). Cognates include German kleben, Dutch kleven.

Verb

1. (intransitive) To cling, adhere or stick fast to something; used with to or unto.