English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kleɪv/

Verb

clave

1. (archaic) simple past tense and past participle of cleave
   • 1611, Bible (KJV):, Genesis, 22:3

     And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him.

   • 1611, Bible (KJV):, Ruth 1:14

     And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.

   • 1868, Thomas Malory, chapter 11, in Le Morte D'Arthur:

     Sir Launcelot put his shield afore him, and put the stroke away of the one giant, and with his sword he clave his head asunder.

Etymology 2

From Spanish clave, from Latin clāvis ‎(“key”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /klɔˈveɪ/

Noun

clave ‎(plural claves)

1. singular of claves

Noun

clave ‎(plural claves)

1. (music) A characteristic pattern of beats, especially the 3-2 son clave.

See also

• Wikipedia article on clave in rhythm

Anagrams

• calve

Asturian

Verb

clave

1. first-person singular present subjunctive of clavar
2. third-person singular present subjunctive of clavar

Italian

Noun

clave f

1. plural of clava

Anagrams

• calve

Latin

Pronunciation

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /ˈklaː.we/

Noun

clāve

1. ablative singular of clāvis

Noun

clāve

1. vocative singular of clāvus

Portuguese

Etymology

Borrowing from Latin clāvis. Compare the inherited chave.

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -avi

Noun

clave f (plural claves)

1. (music) clef (symbol)
2. juggling club

Spanish

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin clāvis ‎(“key”). Compare the inherited doublet llave.

Noun

clave f ‎(plural claves)

1. key (to a problem or puzzle)
2. password
3. code
4. (music) clef
5. (music) clave

Synonyms

• (password): contraseña

Related terms

• llave

Descendants

• English: clave

Adjective

clave m, f ‎(plural clave or claves)

1. key (important)

Verb

clave

1. Formal second-person singular (usted) imperative form of clavar.
2. First-person singular (yo) present subjunctive form of clavar.
3. Formal second-person singular (usted) present subjunctive form of clavar.
4. Third-person singular (él, ella, also used with usted^?) present subjunctive form of clavar.