cleave

C2+ Topic:Actions & Processes

US /kliv/ UK /kliːv/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

verb
to split or sever, or alternatively to cling closely

With one blow the axe cleaved the log in two.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to split or sever, or... split sever divide cling adhere stick rend

Opposites

join unite fuse

Word family

Derived forms cleaver cleavage

Related forms cleftclovenclove

Etymology

Two homographs converged: 'to split' is from Old English clēofan (Proto-Germanic *kleubaną, PIE *gleubh- 'to cut'); 'to cling' is from Old English clifian/cleofian (Proto-Germanic *klibōną, PIE *gleybh- 'to stick').

clēofan Old English *gleubh- Proto-Indo-European

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# cleave

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /kliv/
**IPA (UK):** /kliːv/

## Meanings
1. to split or sever, or alternatively to cling closely

## Examples
- With one blow the axe cleaved the log in two.

## Synonyms
- split
- sever
- divide
- cling
- adhere
- stick
- rend

## Antonyms
- join
- unite
- fuse

## Derived Forms
- cleaver
- cleavage

## Related Forms
- cleft
- cloven
- clove

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: clēofan
- Root: *gleubh-

## Etymology
Two homographs converged: 'to split' is from Old English clēofan (Proto-Germanic *kleubaną, PIE *gleubh- 'to cut'); 'to cling' is from Old English clifian/cleofian (Proto-Germanic *klibōną, PIE *gleybh- 'to stick').

## AI Etymology
Cleave reflects two converged homographs: 'to split' is from Old English clēofan (Proto-Germanic *kleubaną, PIE *gleubh- 'to cut'); 'to cling' is from Old English clifian/cleofian (Proto-Germanic *klibōną, PIE *gleybh- 'to stick'). The historical trail runs through Old English clēofan and Proto-Indo-European *gleubh-. In modern use it means to split or sever, or alternatively to cling closely. Derived formations include cleaver, cleavage; related forms include cleft, cloven, clove.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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