cleave

cleave
verb (T) formal past tense cleaved, clove, cleft past participle cleaved, cloven cleft
1 (intransitive always + adv/prep, transitive always + adv/prep) to cut something into separate parts using a heavy tool or to be able to be cut in this way: The wooden door had been cleft in two.
2 (T) to divide something into two completely separate parts: Class divisions have cleft the society.
3 cleave the air/darkness etc to move quickly through the air etc: His fist cleft the air.
cleave to sb/sth phrasal verb (T)
1 formal to continue to think that a method, belief etc is true or valuable, even when this seems unlikely: John still cleaves to his romantic ideals.
2 to stick to someone or something or seem to surround them

Longman dictionary of contemporary English. 2004.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?
Synonyms:

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Cleave — may refer to: Cleave (fiber), a controlled break in optical fiber RAF Cleave, airbase in Cornwall, England, 1939 1945 People with surname Cleave Chris Cleave (born 1973), British journalist Egbert Cleave (fl. 1870s), American author John Cleave… …   Wikipedia

  • Cleave — steht für: Cleave (Band), eine Rock Band aus Österreich Cleave ist der Familienname folgender Personen: Chris Cleave (* 1973), britischer Journalist und Schriftsteller Mary Louise Cleave (* 1947), amerikanische Astronautin Paul Cleave (* 1974),… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Cleave — (kl[=e]v), v. i. [imp. {Cleaved} (kl[=e]vd), {Clave} (kl[=a]v, Obs.); p. p. {Cleaved}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Cleaving}.] [OE. cleovien, clivien, cliven, AS. cleofian, clifian; akin to OS. klib[=o]n, G. kleben, LG. kliven, D. kleven, Dan. kl[ae]be, Sw …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • cleave — [kli:v] v past tense cleaved , clove [kləuv US klouv] , or cleft [kleft] past participle cleaved , past tense cloven [ˈkləuvən US ˈklou ] or cleft [: Old English; Origin: cleofan. cleave to Old English clifian] …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • Cleave — Cleave, v. i. To part; to open; to crack; to separate; as parts of bodies; as, the ground cleaves by frost. [1913 Webster] The Mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst. Zech. xiv. 4. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • cleave — cleave·land·ite; un·cleave; cleave; …   English syllables

  • cleave — Ⅰ. cleave [1] ► VERB (past clove or cleft or cleaved; past part. cloven or cleft or cleaved) 1) split or sever along a natural grain or line. 2) divide; split …   English terms dictionary

  • Cleave — (kl[=e]v), v. t. [imp. {Cleft} (kl[e^]ft), {Clave} (kl[=a]v, Obs.), {Clove} (kl[=o]v, Obsolescent); p. p. {Cleft}, {Cleaved} (kl[=e]vd) or {Cloven} (kl[=o] v n); p. pr. & vb. n. {Cleaving}.] [OE. cleoven, cleven, AS. cle[ o]fan; akin to OS.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • cleave — [ kliv ] verb transitive LITERARY to cut or break something into two parts with a lot of force cleave ,to phrasal verb transitive 1. ) to stay very close to someone, or to stay close together a ) to stick firmly to something 2. ) to keep… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • cleave — cling, *stick, adhere, cohere Analogous words: *fasten, attach, fix, affix: unite, *join, associate, link, combine, conjoin Antonyms: part Contrasted words: *separate, divorce, divide, sever, sunder: *detach …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • cleave — [v1] divide, split carve, chop, crack, cut, dissect, dissever, disunite, divorce, hack, hew, open, part, pierce, rend, rip, rive, separate, sever, slice, stab, sunder, tear asunder, whack; concepts 98,137,176 Ant. join, meld, unite cleave [v2]… …   New thesaurus

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”