cleave to
cleave to — phrasal verb
- cleave tobase form
- cleaves to3rd person singular
- cleaving to-ing form
- cleft topast simple
1. to hold onto something tightly and stay attached to its surface, so that it is d
to hold onto something tightly and stay attached to its surface, so that it is difficult to separate or remove
After the rain, wet leaves cleaved to the wooden deck and would not blow away.
concrete physical adhesion context
Old paper had cleaved to the glass frame for years and required careful removal.
Barnacles cleave to the boat hull so firmly that scraping them off takes hours.
In the museum, ancient clay tablets had cleaved to one another after centuries of pressure.
Mud cleaves to the soles of your boots after a long walk through wet fields.
- fall off
opposite of remaining attached; informal
- come loose
describes the result of separating
文法句型
cleave + to + noun
用法筆記
Frequently appears with physical substances (mud, leaves, barnacles, paper) and implies a degree of force is needed to separate them. The simple present tense is uncommon in everyday speech; past tense (cleaved) is more typical. Do not confuse with the homograph 'cleave' meaning 'to split apart'.
常見錯誤
2. to continue holding a belief, principle, or way of thinking, even when it is cha
to continue holding a belief, principle, or way of thinking, even when it is challenged or when others disagree
Despite the evidence, the old professor still cleaved to his theory about the ancient texts.
cleave to + belief system despite counter-evidence
The community cleaved to its traditional farming methods even after modern machinery became available.
Meera cleaves to the principle that honesty matters more than convenience in every situation.
Young artists in the region still cleave to the storytelling style their grandparents used.
Shirin cleaved to her faith through years of hardship, finding comfort in its daily rituals.
文法句型
cleave + to + abstract noun (belief/principle/tradition/faith)
用法筆記
Subject is usually a person or group; the object is an abstract noun such as a belief, tradition, principle, faith, or custom. This sense often carries a tone of respect or admiration for the person's steadfastness. In modern English, 'cling to' is more common in the same figurative meaning.
常見錯誤
3. to remain very close to someone, either physically or in a relationship, not wan
to remain very close to someone, either physically or in a relationship, not wanting to be separated
The small child cleaved to her grandmother's side throughout the entire wedding ceremony.
physical proximity: cleave to + person + side
Kenji cleaved to his older brother during the years they spent in the refugee camp.
In an old story, a loyal dog cleaves to its master and guards the grave.
Nellie and Anthony cleaved to one another through decades of good times and bad.
- cling to
more common; can imply desperation or dependence
- stick with
informal and very common in everyday English
- stay close to
most neutral and widely understood
- leave
to go away from; opposite of staying close
- separate from
formal; to create distance
文法句型
cleave + to + person
用法筆記
This sense appears most often in literary or biblical contexts ('Therefore shall a man cleave unto his wife'). In modern everyday English, 'stay close to', 'stick with', or 'cling to' are far more common. The past tense 'cleaved' is preferred over 'clave' in contemporary writing.