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Cleave vs Bisect - What's the difference?

cleave | bisect |

As verbs the difference between cleave and bisect

is that cleave is to split or sever something with, or as if with, a sharp instrument or cleave can be to cling, adhere or stick fast to something; used with to or unto while bisect is to cut or divide into two parts.

As nouns the difference between cleave and bisect

is that cleave is (technology) flat, smooth surface produced by cleavage, or any similar surface produced by similar techniques, as in glass while bisect is (geometry) a bisector, which divides into two equal parts.

cleave

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) cleven, from the (etyl) strong verb .

Verb

  • To split or sever something with, or as if with, a sharp instrument.
  • The wings cleaved the foggy air.
  • * Shakespeare
  • O Hamlet, thou hast cleft my heart in twain.
  • (mineralogy) To break a single crystal (such as a gemstone or semiconductor wafer) along one of its more symmetrical crystallographic planes (often by impact), forming facets on the resulting pieces.
  • To make or accomplish by or as if by cutting.
  • The truck cleaved a path through the ice.
  • (chemistry) To split (a complex molecule) into simpler molecules.
  • To split.
  • (mineralogy) Of a crystal, to split along a natural plane of division.
  • Noun

    (en noun)
  • (technology) Flat, smooth surface produced by cleavage, or any similar surface produced by similar techniques, as in glass.
  • Derived terms

    * (l)

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) cleofian, from (etyl) . Cognates include German kleben, Dutch kleven.

    Verb

    (cleav)
  • To cling, adhere or stick fast to something; used with to or unto.
  • bisect

    English

    (wikipedia bisect)

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To cut or divide into two parts.
  • (geometry) To divide an angle, line segment, or other figure into two equal parts.
  • Noun

    (en noun)
  • (geometry) A bisector, which divides into two equal parts.
  • (philately) An envelope, card, or fragment thereof showing an affixed cut half of a regular issued stamp, over which one or more postal markings have been applied. Typically used in wartime when normal lower rate stamps may not be available.
  • See also

    * dissect * vivisect