GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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Found 4 definitions 

  1.       
Cleave (klēv), v. t. [imp. Cleft (klĕft), Clave (klāv, Obs.), Clove (klōv, Obsolescent); p. p. Cleft, Cleaved (klēvd) or Cloven (klōˈv'n); p. pr. & vb. n. Cleaving.] [OE. cleoven, cleven, AS. cleófan; akin to OS. klioban, D. klooven, G. klieben, Icel. kljūfa, Sw. klyfva, Dan. klöve and prob. to Gr. γλύφειν to carve, L. glubere to peel. Cf. Cleft.]
    1. To part or divide by force; to split or rive; to cut.

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    O Hamlet, thou hast cleft my heart in twain. Shak.

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    2. To part or open naturally; to divide.

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    Every beast that parteth the hoof, and cleaveth the cleft into two claws. Deut. xiv. 6.

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  2.       
Cleft (klĕft), imp. & p. p. from Cleave.

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  3.       
Cleft, a.
    1. Divided; split; partly divided or split.

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    2. (Bot.) Incised nearly to the midrib; as, “a cleft leaf”.

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  4.       
Cleft, n. [OE. clift; cf. Sw. klyft cave, den, Icel. kluft cleft, Dan. klöft, G. kluft. See Cleave to split and cf. 2d Clift, 1st Clough.]
    1. A space or opening made by splitting; a crack; a crevice; as, “the cleft of a rock”.  Is. ii. 21.

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    2. A piece made by splitting; as, “a cleft of wood”.

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    3. (Far.) A disease in horses; a crack on the band of the pastern.

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    Branchial clefts. See under Branchial.

    Syn. -- Crack; crevice; fissure; chink; cranny.

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