"Cleave" Pronounce,Meaning And Examples

"Cleave" Natural Recordings by Native Speakers

Cleave

"Cleave" Meaning

The word "cleave" is a verb that has multiple meanings.

In a literal sense, it means to split or divide something, typically along a natural line or joint. For example, "The sword cleaved through the air."

In a figurative sense, it means to stick or adhere to something or someone, often with a sense of loyalty or devotion. For example, "She cleaves to her family's traditional values."

It can also mean to cause someone or something to split or divide. For example, "The controversy cleaved the community in two."

However, it's worth noting that the meaning of "cleave" can vary depending on the context in which it is used. The word has a somewhat old-fashioned or formal tone to it, and it's not as commonly used in modern everyday language as some other verbs.

"Cleave" Examples

Cleave can have two distinctly different meanings. Here are five usage examples for each:

To split or divide

The surgeon expertly cleft the patient's skull to relieve the pressure.
The river cleaved its way through the mountain range, creating a deep gorge.
Cleave the bread in half and spread the butter evenly.
She tore the letter in two, cleaving it down the middle.
The pair cleaved from the rest of the party, deciding to take a different route.

To adhere or stick

The officer's word will cleave to the truth, no matter what.
The intrinsic value of the company will cleave to its assets.
The guilt will cleave to her, a heavy burden to bear.
Joy and sorrow cleave together in her eyes.
Her loyalty will cleave to the team, no matter what challenges they face.

Note: The first meaning is more commonly used in British English, while the second meaning is more commonly used in American English.

"Cleave" Similar Words

Clearway

A clearway is a road or a section of a road where vehicles are allowed to drive at high speeds, typically exceeding 60 mph (97 km/h), without restrictions or obstacles. It is usually marked with signs or painted lines and is intended to provide a safe and efficient route for fast-moving traffic. Clearways can be especially useful on highways, freeways, or other high-speed routes where traffic flows freely and uninterrupted.

Cleat

A cleat is a fixed or movable device, usually in the form of a metal or plastic strip, used for securing or fastening something. It can refer to: A type of shoe attachment that helps prevent slipping on smooth surfaces, often used by athletes. A device used to hold down a rope, cable, or wire. A fastening device used in textiles, such as a hook and eye or a snap. It can also refer to a small ledge or projection that serves as a foothold or handhold.

Cleated

Having cleats on something means to have protrusions or projections that provide traction or prevent slipping, typically on shoes, boots, or tires. It can also mean to insert or attach cleats, such as those on a golf shoe, onto a surface. In a broader sense, the verb "to cleate" can mean to attach or fix something securely, often with a fastening or a connection.

Cleating

Cleats

Cleavable

Capable of being cleaved or split; divisible into parts.

Cleavage

Cleavages

Cleavages refer to cracks, fissures, or splits in the Earth's crust or in a solid object, often caused by tectonic forces, stresses, or other geological processes. In a broader sense, cleavages can also describe divisions, rifts, or splits within a group, organization, or society, often resulting from differences in beliefs, values, or opinions.

Cleaved

The verb "cleaved" means to split or divide something, often violently or forcefully. It can also mean to separate or divide people or groups. For example: The two boulders cleaved down the mountain trail. The family was cleaved by bitter disagreements. In a more figurative sense, "cleaved" can also mean to sever or break a bond or connection, often due to a strong emotion or event. For example: Her heart was cleaved by grief after her partner's death. The community was cleaved by the controversy over the new development.

Cleaver

A cleaver is a type of kitchen knife with a broad, flat blade, often used for chopping and cutting through bones and thicker cuts of meat. It is also known as a butcher's cleaver. The word "cleaver" can also be used figuratively to describe someone or something that cuts or cuts through something with ease, such as a problem or an obstacle.

Cleavers

Cleaves

Cleaving

Cleaving refers to the act of dividing or splitting something into two parts, often in a sharp or violent manner. It can also be used figuratively to describe a person's tendency to split or separate into two opposing sides or factions, often with intense emotions or conflict.

Cledge

Cledonism

Cledonism refers to the ancient Greek practice of disembodied voices speaking or whispering words of wisdom, advice, or prophecy to individuals, often seen as a divine or mysterious phenomenon.