Transcription
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
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- [kleev]
- /kliv/
- /kliːv/
-
- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [kleev]
- /kliv/
Definitions of cleave word
- verb cleave To cleave something means to split or divide it into two separate parts, often violently. 3
- verb cleave If someone cleaves to something or to someone else, they begin or continue to have strong feelings of loyalty towards them. 3
- verb cleave to split or cause to split, esp along a natural weakness 3
- verb cleave to make by or as if by cutting 3
- verb cleave to penetrate or traverse 3
- verb cleave to cling or adhere 3
Information block about the term
Origin of cleave
First appearance:
before 900 One of the 4% oldest English words
before 900; Middle English cleven, Old English cleofian, cognate with Old High German klebēn (German kleben)
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Cleave
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
cleave popularity
A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 82% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
This word is included in each student's vocabulary. Most likely there is at least one movie with this word in the title.
cleave usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for cleave
verb cleave
- hew — to strike forcibly with an ax, sword, or other cutting instrument; chop; hack.
- sunder — to separate; part; divide; sever.
- rive — to tear or rend apart: to rive meat from a bone.
- pierce — to penetrate into or run through (something), as a sharp, pointed dagger, object, or instrument does.
- cut — If you cut something, you use a knife or a similar tool to divide it into pieces, or to mark it or damage it. If you cut a shape or a hole in something, you make the shape or hole by using a knife or similar tool.
Antonyms for cleave
verb cleave
- combine — If you combine two or more things or if they combine, they exist together.
- unite — to join, combine, or incorporate so as to form a single whole or unit.
- marry — to take in marriage: After dating for five years, I finally asked her to marry me.
- connect — If something or someone connects one thing to another, or if one thing connects to another, the two things are joined together.
- mend — to make (something broken, worn, torn, or otherwise damaged) whole, sound, or usable by repairing: to mend old clothes; to mend a broken toy.
Top questions with cleave
- what is cleave?
- what does cleave mean?
- what does it mean to leave and cleave?
- how to get tranquil cleave?
See also
Matching words
- Words starting with c
- Words starting with cl
- Words starting with cle
- Words starting with clea
- Words starting with cleav
- Words starting with cleave