Cleave v. i. [imp. Cleaved Clave ( Obs.); p. p. Cleaved; p. pr. & vb. n. Cleaving.]
 1. To adhere closely; to stick; to hold fast; to cling.
    My bones cleave to my skin.   --Ps. cii. 5.
    The diseases of Egypt . . . shall cleave unto thee.   --Deut. xxviii. 60.
 Sophistry cleaves close to and protects
 Sin's rotten trunk, concealing its defects.   --Cowper.
 2. To unite or be united closely in interest or affection; to adhere with strong attachment.
    Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife.   --Gen. ii. 24.
    Cleave unto the Lord your God.   --Josh. xxiii. 8.
 3. To fit; to be adapted; to assimilate. [Poetic.]
 New honors come upon him,
 Like our strange garments, cleave not to their mold
 But with the aid of use.   --Shak.
 Cleave v. t. [imp. Cleft Clave ( Obs.), Clove ( Obsolescent); p. p. Cleft, Cleaved or Cloven p. pr. & vb. n. Cleaving.]
 1. To part or divide by force; to split or rive; to cut.
    O Hamlet, thou hast cleft my heart in twain.   --Shak.
 2. To part or open naturally; to divide.
    Every beast that parteth the hoof, and cleaveth the cleft into two claws.   --Deut. xiv. 6.