<B>cleaver, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>a cutting tool with a heavy blade and a short handle. A butcher uses a cleaver to chop through meat or bone. <DD><B> 2. </B>a prehistoric stone tool with a broad cutting edge. <DD><B> 3. </B>a person who cleaves. </DL>
<A NAME="cleavers">
<B>cleavers, </B>noun sing. and pl.<DL COMPACT><DD> any one of various climbing plants of the madder family, which adhere by short, hooked bristles to hedges, clothing, or hide. Also, <B>clivers.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="cleek">
<B>cleek, </B>noun, verb, <B>claught</B> or <B>cleeked,</B> <B>cleeking.</B><DL COMPACT><DD><I>noun </I> <B>1. </B>a golf club with a narrow or small head and less slope than a midiron, used for long-distance shots. It may be the "number 1 iron" but it is now usually the "number 4 wood." <BR> <I>Ex. It was a day of furious wind by the sea and Mr. Hutchison was stealthily progressing by half cleek shots which kept the ball close to the ground (Atlantic).</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>(Scottish.) a large hook. <DD><I>v.t. </I> (Scottish.) to seize firmly or suddenly; clutch. Also, <B>cleik.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="clef">
<B>clef, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a symbol in music indicating the pitch of the notes on a staff. The three clefs are <I>G</I> (treble), <I>F</I> (bass), and the less commonly used <I>C</I> (soprano, alto, or tenor). The forms of the clefs derive ultimately from the shapes of those letters. The staff line where a clef is located is assigned the same pitch as the tone represented by the clef. The tones of the three clefs are the G above middle C, the F below it, and middle C. </DL>
<A NAME="cleft">
<B>cleft, </B>verb, adjective, noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>verb </I> a past tense and a past participle of <B>cleave</B> (1). <BR> <I>Ex. His blow cleft the log in two.</I> <DD><I>adj. </I> <B>1. </B>split or divided to a certain depth; bifurcate. <BR> <I>Ex. a cleft stick.</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>split into thin pieces. <DD><B> 3. </B>divided into lobes by notches extending halfway, or somewhat further, from the margin to the midrib or to the base. <BR> <I>Ex. a cleft leaf.</I> <DD><I>noun </I> <B>1. </B>a space or opening made by splitting; crack. <BR> <I>Ex. a deep cleft in the rocks.</I> (SYN) fissure, crevice, chink, split. <DD><B> 2. </B>a hollow part, such as a dimple. <BR> <I>Ex. a cleft on the chin.</I> <DD><B> 3. </B>a split in the pattern or hoof of a horse. <BR><I>expr. <B>in a cleft stick.</B> </I>See under <B>stick</B> (1). </DL>
<A NAME="cleftgraft">
<B>cleft-graft, </B>transitive verb.<DL COMPACT><DD> to engraft (a plant) by cleaving the stock and inserting a cutting. </DL>
<A NAME="cleftlip">
<B>cleft lip,</B> <B>=harelip.</B></DL>
<A NAME="cleftpalate">
<B>cleft palate,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a narrow opening running lengthwise in the roof of the mouth, caused by failure of the two parts of the palate to join before birth. </DL>
<A NAME="cleg">
<B>cleg, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> (British.) a gadfly. </DL>
<B>cleistogamous, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> having small, self-pollinating flowers that do not open, in addition to regular flowers. <BR> <I>Ex. The violet is a cleistogamous plant.</I> </DL>
<A NAME="cleistogamy">
<B>cleistogamy, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> the condition of having small flowers that do not open, but are pollinated from their own anthers in addition to the normal, larger, brightly colored flowers, as in the violet. </DL>
<A NAME="cleithral">
<B>cleithral, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> having a roof; roofed over. <BR> <I>Ex. a cleithral temple.</I> <DL COMPACT><DD> Also, <B>clithral.</B> </DL>
</DL>
<A NAME="clem">
<B>clem, </B>verb, <B>clemmed,</B> <B>clemming.</B><DL COMPACT><DD> (British Dialect.) <DD><I>v.t. </I> to pinch with hunger, parch with thirst, or benumb with cold. <DD><I>v.i. </I> to suffer from hunger, thirst, or cold. Also, <B>clam.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="clematis">
<B>clematis, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a climbing vine with clusters of large, white, red, pink, blue, or purple flowers; virgin's-bower. Clematis is a perennial plant which belongs to the crowfoot family. <BR> <I>Ex. The clematis seed trails a long feathery plume (Vernon Quinn).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="clemency">
<B>clemency, </B>noun, pl. <B>-cies.</B><DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>gentleness in the use of power or authority; mercy or leniency. <BR> <I>Ex. The judge showed clemency to the prisoner.</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>mildness. <BR> <I>Ex. The clemency of the weather allowed them to live outdoors.</I> </DL>
<A NAME="clement">
<B>clement, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>merciful toward those in one's power; lenient. <BR> <I>Ex. I know you are more clement than vile men, who of their broken debtors take a third (Shakespeare).</I> (SYN) kind, compassionate. <DD><B> 2. </B>mild. <BR> <I>Ex. Hawaii usually has clement weather.</I> (SYN) gentle. adv. <B>clemently.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="clench">
<B>clench, </B>verb, noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>v.t. </I> <B>1. </B>to close tightly together. <BR> <I>Ex. to clench one's teeth or hand, a clenched fist.</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>to grasp firmly; grip tightly; clutch. <BR> <I>Ex. She clenched my arm in terror.</I> <DD><B> 3. </B>to clinch (a nail or staple). <DD><I>noun </I> <B>1. </B>a firm grasp; tight grip. <BR> <I>Ex. I felt the clench of his hand on my arm as I began to slip.</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>a clinch (of a nail or a staple). </DL>
<A NAME="clencher">
<B>clencher, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>a person or thing that clenches. <DD><B> 2. </B>(Figurative.) a decisive argument; clincher. </DL>
<A NAME="cleome">
<B>cleome, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> any plant of a group of chiefly tropical herbs and shrubs of the caper family, bearing showy flowers. </DL>
<A NAME="clepe">
<B>clepe, </B>transitive verb, <B>cleped</B> or <B>clept</B> (also <B>ycleped</B> or <B>yclept</B>), <B>cleping.</B><DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>(Archaic.) to call by the name of. <DD><B> 2. </B>(Obsolete.) to call; summon. </DL>
<A NAME="clepsydra">
<B>clepsydra, </B>noun, pl. <B>-dras,</B> <B>-drae.</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a device used by the ancients for measuring time by the flow of water, mercury, or some other liquid, through a small opening. </DL>
<B>clerestory, </B>noun, pl. <B>-ries.</B><DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>the upper part of the wall of a church, having windows in it above the roofs of the aisles. <DD><B> 2. </B>any similar structure, such as a raised section of roof on a building or railroad car, having windows, for lighting or ventilation. Also, <B>clearstory.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="clergy">
<B>clergy, </B>noun, pl. <B>-gies.</B><DL COMPACT><DD> persons ordained for religious work; ministers, pastors or rectors, priests, and rabbis. </DL>
<A NAME="clergyman">
<B>clergyman, </B>noun, pl. <B>-men.</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a member of the clergy; minister, pastor or rector, priest, or rabbi. <BR> <I>Ex. By a clergyman, I mean one in holy orders (Sir Richard Steele).</I> (SYN) cleric, ecclesiastic. </DL>
<A NAME="clergywoman">
<B>clergywoman, </B>noun, pl. <B>-women.</B><DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>a woman minister. <DD><B> 2. </B>a woman belonging to a clergyman's household. <BR> <I>Ex. From the clergywomen of Windholm down to the charwomen the question was discussed (Margaret Wilson Oliphant).</I> <DD><B> 3. </B>(Obsolete.) a woman dedicated to religion, such as a nun. </DL>
<A NAME="cleric">
<B>cleric, </B>noun, adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>noun </I> <B>1. </B><B>=clergyman.</B> <DD><B> 2. </B>(in the Roman Catholic Church) a man whose head has been partially shaved as a rite preparatory to becoming a priest or monk; clerk. <DD><I>adj. </I> of a clergyman or the clergy; clerical. </DL>
<A NAME="clerical">
<B>clerical, </B>adjective, noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>adj. </I> <B>1. </B>of a clerk or clerks; for clerks. <BR> <I>Ex. Keeping records or accounts and typing letters are clerical jobs in an office.</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>of a clergyman or the clergy. <BR> <I>Ex. The minister performed clerical duties in church. The priest wore clerical robes in church.</I> <DD><B> 3. </B>supporting the power or influence of the clergy in politics. <DD><I>noun </I> <B>1. </B><B>=clergyman.</B> <DD><B> 2. </B>Also, <B>Clerical.</B> a supporter of the power or influence of the clergy in politics. <BR><I>expr. <B>clericals,</B> </I>the distinctive clothes worn by certain clergymen. <BR> <I>Ex. He tucked and pulled nervously at his clericals, and then signaled for silence by clearing his throat (New Yorker).</I> adv. <B>clerically.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="clericalcollar">
<B>clerical collar,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a stiff, white band worn around the neck by clergymen. </DL>
<A NAME="clericalism">
<B>clericalism, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1a. </B>the power or influence of the clergy in politics. <BR> <I>Ex. ... the indignities of militarism and clericalism in Spain and Latin America (Harper's).</I> <DD><B> b. </B>the support of such power or influence. <DD><B> 2. </B>the principles or practices of clerics or of a clerical party. noun <B>clericalist.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="clericality">
<B>clericality, </B>noun, pl. <B>-ties.</B><DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>clerical character or condition. <DD><B> 2. </B>clerical trait or action. </DL>
<A NAME="clericalize">
<B>clericalize, </B>transitive verb, <B>-ized,</B> <B>-izing.</B><DL COMPACT><DD> to render clerical; exalt the influence of the clergy in. <BR> <I>Ex. Socialists accused Catholics of trying to "clericalize" the predominantly Catholic nation (Newsweek).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="clericals">
<B>clericals, </B>noun pl.<DL COMPACT><DD> See under <B>clerical.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="clericature">
<B>clericature, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> clerical position or authority. </DL>
<A NAME="clerihew">
<B>clerihew, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a humorous jingle in four lines, about a person, supposedly biographical.(Example:) <DL COMPACT><DD> "Sir Christopher Wren <DL COMPACT><DD> Said 'I'm going to dine with some men. <DL COMPACT><DD> If anybody calls <DL COMPACT><DD> Say I'm designing St. Paul's.'" </DL>
</DL>
<A NAME="clerisy">
<B>clerisy, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> learned men as a class or group; scholars; literati. </DL>
