The difference between Cleave and Cling
When used as nouns, cleave means flat, smooth surface produced by cleavage, or any similar surface produced by similar techniques, as in glass, whereas cling means fruit (especially peach) whose flesh adheres strongly to the pit.
When used as verbs, cleave means to split or sever something with, or as if with, a sharp instrument, whereas cling means to hold very tightly, as to not fall off.
check bellow for the other definitions of Cleave and Cling
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Cleave as a verb (transitive):
To split or sever something with, or as if with, a sharp instrument.
Examples:
"The wings cleaved the foggy air."
"RQ:AV Psalms 78 15 Hee claue the rockes in the wildernes: and gaue them drinke as out of the great depthes."
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Cleave as a verb (transitive, 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.
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Cleave as a verb (intransitive):
To make or accomplish by or as if by cutting.
Examples:
"The truck cleaved a path through the ice."
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Cleave as a verb (transitive, chemistry):
To split (a complex molecule) into simpler molecules.
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Cleave as a verb (intransitive):
To split.
Examples:
"RQ:AV Numbers 16 31 And it came to passe as he had made an ende of speaking all these words, that the ground claue asunder that was vnder them:"
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Cleave as a verb (intransitive, mineralogy):
Of a crystal, to split along a natural plane of division.
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Cleave as a noun (technology):
Flat, smooth surface produced by cleavage, or any similar surface produced by similar techniques, as in glass.
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Cleave as a verb (intransitive):
To cling, adhere or stick fast to something; used with to or unto.
Examples:
"RQ:AV Ruth 1 14 And they lift vp their voyce, and wept againe: and Orpah kissed her mother in law, but Ruth claue vnto her."
"RQ:AV 2 Kings 3 3 Neuerthelesse, hee cleaued vnto the sinnes of Ieroboam the sonne of Nebat, which made Israel to sinne; he departed not therefrom."
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Cling as a noun:
Fruit (especially peach) whose flesh adheres strongly to the pit.
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Cling as a noun:
adherence; attachment; devotion
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Cling as a verb:
To hold very tightly, as to not fall off.
Examples:
"Seaweed clung to the anchor."
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Cling as a verb:
To adhere to an object, without being affixed, in such a way as to follow its contours. Used especially of fabrics and films.
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Cling as a verb (transitive):
To cause to adhere to, especially by twining round or embracing.
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Cling as a verb (transitive):
To cause to dry up or wither.
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Cling as a verb (intransitive):
To dry up or wither.
Examples:
"Wood clings."
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Cling as a verb (figurative, with preposition to):
to be fond of, to feel strongly about
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Cling as a verb:
To produce a high-pitched ringing sound, like a small bell.