cleave1
  
  v.
 (past clove or cleft or cleaved; past part. cloven or cleft or cleaved)
  - split or sever along a natural grain or line. ▸split (a molecule) by breaking a particular chemical bond. ▸Biology  (of a cell) divide. 
- move through (something) forcefully:![]()  they watched a coot cleave the smooth water. 
Derivative
  
  Etymology
  OE clēofan, of Gmc origin.
 
  
    
cleave2
  
  v.
 
(
cleave to)
 
literary  - stick fast to.
- adhere strongly to or become very involved with:![]()  most schools cleave strongly to received policy. 
Etymology
  OE cleofian, clifian, clīfan, of W. Gmc origin; rel. to clay and climb.