GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

last match results

Found 4 definitions

1.       
   Cleave , v. t. [imp. Cleft , Clave (, Obs.), Clove (, Obsolescent); p. p. Cleft, Cleaved  or Cloven ; 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.]
    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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   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 , imp. & p. p. from Cleave.
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3.       
   Cleft, a.
   Divided; split; partly divided or split.
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   (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.]
    A space or opening made by splitting; a crack; a crevice; as, the cleft of a rock.
   Is. ii. 21.
   
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   A piece made by splitting; as, a cleft of wood.
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   (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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