cleave

Formscleaves, cleaving, cleft

1. 1
   split by bladeverbtransitive

   To split or cut something apart with a sharp tool, or as if with one.

   He used a heavy knife to cleave the chicken in two.

   The fast boat cleaves the water and leaves white waves behind it.

   UsagePast: cleaved or clove. Cleave to something means hold on to it.

   Similarsplit, chop, hew, cut, sever

   Note
2. 2
   clingverbliteraryintransitive

   To stick or hold on tightly to someone or something, used with the word to or unto.

   All his life he cleaved to the old ways of his village.

   "I only know that I love thee as I never loved before, and that I will cleave to thee to the end."

   1886, H[enry] Rider Haggard, She: A History of AdventureHere, cleave means to stick or hold on tightly to someone.

   UsageSay cleave to your beliefs. The past is cleaved.

   Similarcling, adhere, stick, hold

   Note
3. 3
   chemistryverbtransitive

   In chemistry, to break a complicated molecule into simpler molecules.

   Enzymes in your body cleave fat molecules into simpler ones that you can use for energy.

   In the lab, the students used heat to cleave the large molecule into two smaller ones.

   Similarsplit, break

4. 4
   verbtransitive

   To make something, like a path, by cutting, or as if by cutting.

   The hikers had to cleave a path through the thick bushes with their knives.

   The big snowplow cleaves a road through the deep snow every morning.

   UsageSay cleave a path through the trees.

   Similarcut, carve, hack, clear

   Note
5. 5
   verbintransitive

   To split apart, often along a natural line in wood or stone.

   Dry wood can cleave in two if you hit it in the right spot.

   Dry oak logs cleave easily along the grain.

   Similarsplit, divide, separate, crack, fracture

6. 6
   split crystalsverbtransitive

   To break a crystal, like a gem, between its natural flat layers, leaving pieces with smooth, flat sides.

   The jeweler tapped the blade gently to cleave the stone into two clean pieces.

   Scientists cleave a thin crystal to get a fresh, very flat surface for their tests.

   Similarsplit

   Note

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