noun
cleve
Cleve (noun) means an old word for a small room or chamber. Example: “The manuscript describes a monk retreating to his cleve to pray.”
noun
1
An old word for a small room or chamber.
"The manuscript describes a monk retreating to his cleve to pray."
2
An old word for a simple cottage.
"A cleve stood at the edge of the moor, long since fallen to ruin."
3
An old word for a cliff or steep hillside.
"The path climbed the cleve above the river before dropping back to the valley floor."
How to use cleve
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn old, mostly dialect word that could mean a small room, a cottage, or a hillside/cliff depending on region.
Memory tip
You will meet this mostly in place names (like Cleve or Cleveland) rather than in modern speech.
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Word forms
- Plural
- cleves
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The manuscript describes a monk retreating to his _____ to pray.
Etymology
From Old English cleofa, meaning a cleft, cave, or small chamber — ultimately from a root meaning "to split or cleave", the same root behind the word cleave.
Rhymes for cleve
See all rhymes for cleve →Frequently asked questions
What does “cleve” mean?
The word “cleve” means an old word for a small room or chamber. In plain terms, an old, mostly dialect word that could mean a small room, a cottage, or a hillside/cliff depending on region.
How do you use “cleve” in a sentence?
Here is “cleve” used in a sentence: “The manuscript describes a monk retreating to his cleve to pray.”
What part of speech is “cleve”?
“Cleve” is a noun.
Where does the word “cleve” come from?
The word “cleve” comes from Old English. From Old English cleofa, meaning a cleft, cave, or small chamber — ultimately from a root meaning "to split or cleave", the same root behind the word cleave.
How many meanings does “cleve” have?
“Cleve” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an old word for a small room or chamber.
