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Cleave vs Splice - What's the difference?

cleave | splice |

As verbs the difference between cleave and splice

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 splice is to unite, as two ropes, or parts of a rope, by a particular manner of interweaving the strands, -- the union being between two ends, or between an end and the body of a rope.

As nouns the difference between cleave and splice

is that cleave is (technology) flat, smooth surface produced by cleavage, or any similar surface produced by similar techniques, as in glass while splice is (nautical) a junction or joining of ropes made by splicing them together.

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.
  • splice

    English

    (wikipedia splice)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (nautical) A junction or joining of ropes made by splicing them together.
  • (electrical) The electrical and mechanical connection between two pieces of wire or cable.
  • (cricket) That part of a bat where the handle joins the blade.
  • Bonding or joining of overlapping materials.
  • Derived terms

    * bent on a splice * comma splice * cut splice * cunt splice * eye splice * splice tape

    Verb

    (splic)
  • To unite, as two ropes, or parts of a rope, by a particular manner of interweaving the strands, -- the union being between two ends, or between an end and the body of a rope.
  • To unite, as spars, timbers, rails, etc., by lapping the two ends together, or by applying a piece which laps upon the two ends, and then binding, or in any way making fast.
  • (slang) To unite in marriage.
  • * 1851 ,
  • But come, it's getting dreadful late, you had better be turning flukes--it's a nice bed; Sal and me slept in that ere bed the night we were spliced .
  • (figuratively) To unite as if splicing.
  • He argues against attempts to splice different genres or species of literature into a single composition.

    Derived terms

    * splice the mainbrace