cleave
To split or sever something with, or as if with, a sharp instrumentTo split or sever something with, or as if with, a sharp instrument.
» The explorers were unable to cleave a path through the jungle.
Den Forschern war es nicht möglich, einen Pfad durch den Dschungel freizuschlagen.
Исследователи не смогли прорубить дорогу через джунгли.
Meaning
7 senses(transitive)To split or sever something with, or as if with, a sharp instrument.
The wings clove the foggy air.
spalten
раска́лыватьraskályvatʹ, расколо́тьraskolótʹ, разреза́тьrazrezátʹ
розко́люватиrozkóljuvaty, розще́плюватиrozščépljuvaty, розщепи́тиrozščepýty
separate or cut with a tool, such as a sharp instrument
(transitive)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.
раска́лыватьraskályvatʹ, расколо́тьraskolótʹ
(transitive)To make or accomplish by or as if by cutting.
The truck clove a path through the ice.
make by cutting into
(transitive)(chemistry) To split (a complex molecule) into simpler molecules.
(intransitive)To split.
раска́лыватьraskályvatʹ, расколо́тьraskolótʹ
(intransitive)Of a crystal, to split along a natural plane of division.
(intransitive, rare)Followed by to or unto: to adhere, cling, or stick fast to something.
kleben
клеитьсяkléitʹsʹa
Examples
4 sentencesThe explorers were unable to cleave a path through the jungle.
ruИсследователи не смогли прорубить дорогу через джунгли. — Karok
deDen Forschern war es nicht möglich, einen Pfad durch den Dschungel freizuschlagen. — Tamy
Wherefore a man shall leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they shall be two in one flesh.
deDarum verlässt der Mann Vater und Mutter und hängt seiner Frau an und sie werden ein Fleisch. — Yorwba
The pig, the sow and the piglets have bristles, but not horns, but also cloven feet, as others do.
With feathered oars he cleaves the skies, and straight / on Libya's shores alighting, speeds his hest.
Translations
8 languagesBy meaning 1
By meaning 2
By meaning 2
Origin
From Middle English cleven, from the Old English strong verb clēofan (“to split, to separaFrom Middle English cleven, from the Old English strong verb clēofan (“to split, to separate”), from Proto-West Germanic *kleuban, from Proto-Germanic *kleubaną, from Proto-Indo-European *glewbʰ- (“to cut, to slice”).
From Middle English cleven, a conflation of two verbs: Old English clifian (from Proto-West Germanic *klibēn, from Proto-Germanic *klibāną) and Old English clīfan (from Proto-West Germanic *klīban, from Proto-Germanic *klībaną), both ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *gleybʰ- (“to stick”). Cognate with Dutch kleven, German kleben (“to stick”).
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Forms
cleaves, cleaving, cleft, cleftSynonyms
6 synonymsWord family
12 related wordsLessons for this word
3 lessons- A1Present simple — Because it is a verb
- A1Past simple, irregular verbs — Because of its past form
- A2Present perfect: introduction — Because of its past participle