| Front | cleave |
|---|---|
| Back | BrE /kliːv/NAmE /kliːv/ verb (cleaved, cleaved Less commonly, cleft /kleft/ and clove /kləʊv/ /kloʊv/ are used for the past tense, and cleft and cloven /ˈkləʊvn/ /ˈkloʊvn/ for the past participle.) 1 [transitive] ~ sth (old-fashioned or literary) to split or cut sth in two using sth sharp and heavyShe cleaved his skull (in two) with an axe. (figurative) His skin was cleft with deep lines. 2 [intransitive, transitive] (old-fashioned or literary)to move quickly through sth~ through stha ship cleaving through the water~ sth The huge boat cleaved the darkness. to cleave a path through the traffic 3 [intransitive] ~ to sth/sb (literary) to stick close to sth/sbHer tongue clove to the roof of her mouth. 4 (cleaved, cleaved) [intransitive] ~ to sth (formal) to continue to believe in or be loyal to sthto cleave to a belief/idea see be (caught) in a cleft stick at cleft |
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