Cleave \Cleave\ (kl[=e]v), v. t. [imp. {Cleft} (kl[e^]ft),
   {Clave} (kl[=a]v, Obs.), {Clove} (kl[=o]v, Obsolescent); p.
   p. {Cleft}, {Cleaved} (kl[=e]vd) or {Cloven} (kl[=o]"v'n); p.
   pr. & vb. n. {Cleaving}.] [OE. cleoven, cleven, AS.
   cle['o]fan; akin to OS. klioban, D. klooven, G. klieben,
   Icel. klj[=u]fa, Sw. klyfva, Dan. kl["o]ve and prob. to Gr.
   gly`fein 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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Cleft \Cleft\ (kl[e^]ft),
   imp. & p. p. from {Cleave}.
   
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Cleft \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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Cleft \Cleft\, n. [OE. clift; cf. Sw. klyft cave, den, Icel.
   kluft cleft, Dan. kl["o]ft, 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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