cleaver
noun
cleav·er
| \ ˈklē-vər
\
\
Definition of cleaver
1
: one that cleaves
especially
: a butcher's implement for cutting animal carcasses into joints or pieces
2
: a prehistoric stone tool having a sharp edge at one end
Examples of cleaver in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Phildecarp uses one to tap a cleaver through hard squashes. — Becky Krystal, Washington Post, "8 reader favorites for non-culinary tools to use in the kitchen," 6 Sep. 2019 The documents state that, after the killing, Sanchez hid the bloody cleaver in her attic. — Evan Simko-bednarski, CNN, "Woman sentenced to 23 years in meat cleaver killing," 21 Aug. 2019 Then Lenin’s 1917 guillotine dropped on the aristocracy like a cleaver on a sturgeon full of caviar. — Jim Kempton, Orange County Register, "Follow the French: A look at the French influence on cuisine around the world," 2 Aug. 2019 Enter to the percussive beat of a cleaver before sitting to a slow-cooked, spice-rich Jaliscan broth bearing the occasional bone splinter, served with a stack of hot tortillas and compulsory lime, onion and cilantro. — Hadley Tomicki, Los Angeles Times, "17 places you probably have to try to understand birria in L.A.," 31 July 2019 Since then, several attacks on Beijing’s opponents in Hong Kong have brought whispers of triad involvement, including the gruesome slashing of former newspaper editor Kevin Lau with a meat cleaver in 2014. — Laignee Barron / Hong Kong, Time, "Suspected 'Triad' Gangs Mark Dangerous New Phase in Hong Kong's Crisis," 23 July 2019 Determining who among the four contestants could claim the title of Butcher Champion came down to three timed challenges, with one contestant eliminated in each round: First was to break down half a hog and split it on a rail with a cleaver. — Julie Gallant, Ramona Sentinel, "Ramona butcher claims top prize in History Channel contest," 25 June 2019 Whenever the mercury creeps into the mid-80s, the cleavers come out and the sticky blood of watermelon is spilled on street corners across China. — Crystal Reid, Popular Mechanics, "This Tiny Island Is Trying to Save the World. But Why?," 12 June 2019 Police recovered a bloody meat cleaver in the kitchen of the home and a knife in the bathroom sink, an official said. — Zolan Kanno-youngs, WSJ, "Three Infants, Two Adults Stabbed at Possible Birthing Center in Queens," 21 Sep. 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cleaver.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for cleaver
cleaver
noun
English Language Learners Definition of cleaver
: a heavy knife with a wide blade used for cutting up large pieces of meat
See the full definition for cleaver in the English Language Learners Dictionary
cleaver
noun
cleav·er
| \ ˈklē-vər
\
\
Kids Definition of cleaver
: a heavy knife used for cutting up meat
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