English
Etymology 1
From the strong Old English verb cl�ofan (to split, to separate), from Proto-Germanic *kleubanan, from Proto-Indo-European root *gleubh- (to cut, to slice). Cognates include dialectal German klieben.
Verb
en-verb|cleaves|cleaving|cleft, clove, or in UK: cleaved|cleft, cloven, or in UK: cleaved
- transitive To split or sever something or as if with a sharp instrument.
- context|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.
- transitive To make or accomplish by or as if by cutting: cleave a path through the ice.
- transitive To pierce or penetrate.
#: The wings cleaved the foggy air.
- context|transitive|chemistry To split (a complex molecule) into simpler molecules.
- context|intransitive|mineralogy Of a crystal, to split along a natural plane of division.
Translations
Vietnamese: rẽ
Noun
en-noun
- technology|jargon Flat, smooth surface produced by cleavage, or any similar surface produced by similar techniques, as in glass.
Related terms
cleavage
cleft
Etymology 2
From Old English cleofian, from West Germanic *klibajanan, from Proto-Indo-European root *gloi- (to stick). Cognates include German kleben (ankleben, bekleben).
Verb
en-verb|cleav|ing
- intransitive To cling, adhere or stick fast to something; used with to or unto.
- intransitive To be faithful.
#: To cleave to one�s principles.
Quotations
RQ:Authorized Version, Genesis, 2:24
References
R:Century 1911
R:Webster 1913
Category:Contranyms
Category:English words with multiple etymologies
ang:cleave
fa:cleave
fr:cleave
io:cleave
it:cleave
hu:cleave
pl:cleave
ru:cleave
fi:cleave
te:cleave
vi:cleave
uk:cleave
zh:cleave
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