Cleave vs Sleave - What's the difference?
cleave | sleave |
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.
(weaving) To separate, as threads; to divide, as a collection of threads.
The knotted or entangled part of silk or thread.
Silk not yet twisted; floss.
* Shakespeare
As verbs the difference between cleave and sleave
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 sleave is (weaving) to separate, as threads; to divide, as a collection of threads.As nouns the difference between cleave and sleave
is that cleave is (technology) flat, smooth surface produced by cleavage, or any similar surface produced by similar techniques, as in glass while sleave is the knotted or entangled part of silk or thread.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)sleave
English
Verb
(sleav)Synonyms
* sleyNoun
(en noun)- Sleep that knits up the ravell'd sleave of care.