cleave to

phrasal verb

cleaved to; cleaved to; cleaving to; cleaves to

Definition of cleave to

formal + literary

1 : to stay very close to (someone) children cleaving to their families

2 : to stick closely to (something) —usually used figuratively He continued to cleave to the beliefs of his childhood.

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Cite this Entry

“Cleave to.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cleave%20to. Accessed 23 Jun. 2021.

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