Cleave vs Degrade - What's the difference?
cleave | degrade |
To split or sever something with, or as if with, a sharp instrument.
* Shakespeare
(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.
(chemistry) To split (a complex molecule) into simpler molecules.
To split.
(mineralogy) Of a crystal, to split along a natural plane of division.
(technology) Flat, smooth surface produced by cleavage, or any similar surface produced by similar techniques, as in glass.
To cling, adhere or stick fast to something; used with to or unto.
To lower in value or social position.
* Palfrey
To reduce in quality or purity.
(geology) To reduce in altitude or magnitude, as hills and mountains; to wear down.
In transitive terms the difference between cleave and degrade
is that cleave is to make or accomplish by or as if by cutting while degrade is to lower in value or social position.In intransitive terms the difference between cleave and degrade
is that cleave is to cling, adhere or stick fast to something; used with to or unto while degrade is to reduce in quality or purity.As a noun cleave
is flat, smooth surface produced by cleavage, or any similar surface produced by similar techniques, as in glass.cleave
English
Etymology 1
From (etyl) cleven, from the (etyl) strong verb .Verb
- The wings cleaved the foggy air.
- O Hamlet, thou hast cleft my heart in twain.
- The truck cleaved a path through the ice.
Noun
(en noun)Derived terms
* (l)Etymology 2
From (etyl) cleofian, from (etyl) . Cognates include German kleben, Dutch kleven.Verb
(cleav)degrade
English
Verb
(degrad)- Fred degrades himself by his behaviour.
- Prynne was sentenced by the Star Chamber Court to be degraded from the bar.
- The DNA sample has degraded .